Final answer:
Products extracted, manufactured, or purchased within a specified proximity to the project site are given a location valuation factor of 2 if they meet LEED sustainability criteria, highlighting the importance of local sourcing and environmental standards in the construction industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The MRc Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Environmental Product Declarations credits are a part of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which is an important certification for green building, reflecting the environmentally friendly and sustainable nature of building materials and practices. When deciding on the location for a new factory, companies consider a multitude of factors such as labor and financial capital costs, closeness to reliable suppliers and customers, transportation quality, communication network, available electricity, tax levels, and local government integrity. Costs associated with environmental regulations are also a factor, but generally represent a minor percentage (1 to 2%) of the total operating costs. The location valuation factor of 2 is assigned to those products extracted, manufactured, or purchased within a certain mile radius from the project site that meet specific sustainability criteria, emphasizing the benefit of sourcing goods locally while still upholding sustainability standards.