Dr. John Straube: Energy Efficiency of Large Commerical Buildings

As we approach very high performance levels, small design elements become more significant. In this session focused on commercial buildings, John Straube will discuss the tricky details required to meet demanding energy efficiency targets without compromising durability. Adding insulation is just the beginning—to get to higher performance levels, designers and builders need to pay close attention to a range of issues, in particular airtightness and thermal bridging. Join us to hear Dr. Straube’s insights on common challenges and recommendations for design, construction, and commissioning.

About the speaker:
John Straube, Ph.D., P.Eng., is a Principal at RDH Building Science Inc., where he heads forensic investigations and leads research projects in the areas of low-energy building design, building enclosure performance, hygrothermal analysis, and field monitoring of wall assemblies. He is also a prolific writer and a noted public speaker. As one blogger wrote after attending a keynote speech: “he clearly loves what he does.”

In addition to his work with RDH, Dr. Straube is a cross- appointed faculty member in the School of Architecture and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Straube’s leadership as a building scientist and an educator has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Building Science Education from the National Consortium of Housing Research Centers (NCHRC) and the Professional Leadership Award from the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA).

1 AIA CEU (HSW)