Follow Building Sciology on Instagram!

Dr John Straube

Ph.D., P.Eng.

John Straube, Ph.D., P.Eng., is a Principal at RDH Building Science, where he conducts forensic investigations, assists with the design of new high performance buildings, and leads research projects in the areas of low-energy building design, building enclosure performance, hygrothermal analysis, and field performance monitoring. Dr. Straube is also a cross-appointed faculty member in the School of Architecture and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He was a Principal at Building Science Corporation from 2006 to 2013, and is the author or co-author of over 100 published technical papers, author of the book High Performance Enclosures and co-author, with Eric Burnett, of Building Science for Building Enclosures. 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).

16
July 27, 2026

#45 | BONUS Air vs. Vapour: The Moisture Mistakes in Modern Builds with Dr John Straube

Why do we expect our cars to have perfect temperature control, yet tolerate drafty, mould-prone homes that cost ten times as much? In this episode, host Jess Kismet sits down with world-renowned building science expert Dr. John Straube to demystify climate-responsive construction. From the extreme winters of Canada to the humid tropics of Australia, John breaks down why our buildings fail, how terminology confusion is causing massive jobsite errors, and what it actually takes to build durable, comfortable, and healthy homes.