Why does EB have MRc5?

Joseph, fair question. I believe that food production has a significant impact on the environment and human health and wellbeing. That said, I will try and respond from an unbiased perspective. The triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) is at the core of USGBC’s intent to reduce the impact of the built environment on the planet and global population. The inclusion of food purchases in the LEED EB rating system is consistent with the inclusion of purchases of other consumable products: paper, electronics, FSC Certified wood, etc. Purchases are included because of the impact of production on the environment in terms of depletion of natural resources (and the implicit social impact). Food is like all other products, the growth/harvest/production places a burden on the environment – land for growth, energy for production, carbon emissions for transportation, not to mention the effect of manufacturing byproducts in terms of pollution.

I agree with you, sustainable food purchasing is not a building thing – it is a people and environment thing. The choices made in the building impact the people and the environment.