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For nearly 40 years, Bob Drury has served the wall and ceiling community proudly through his position as executive director with the Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau. What readers may or may not know is that he also has close ties to Walls & Ceilings-his father-in-law ran the magazine decades ago.

Village Suites Oshawa is a 556-bed student residence built for the University Of Ontario Institute Of Technology, Canada’s fastest growing university. The building is currently being evaluated by the CaGBC for LEED Platinum certification and if successful, at 270,000 square feet will be one of the largest LEED Platinum certified buildings in Canada.

One of the key components of sustainable homes and buildings is a thermally efficient and dry building envelope that minimizes the leakage of air through the home. Air leaks in walls and attics decrease occupant comfort by permitting the entrance of cold or hot air, depending on the season.

As energy costs continue to fluctuate, homeowners are seeing the benefits of becoming more eco-savvy. One growing area of focus is weatherization. When you consider that up to 40 percent of a home’s energy loss can be attributed to air infiltration*-a combined with recent government incentives-it’s easy to see why.

Several months ago, I wrote a column entitled “Stupid Prices.” The theme of the column was the inevitable price dropping in recessionary times, sometimes to ridiculous levels.

I like choices. Who doesn’t? When I was in college on a study abroad program for a semester, I visited then communist-ruled East Berlin and got a little taste of what it was like to live life with very few choices.

Everyone’s heard of Stonehenge in England-the weird stone blocks in the middle of a field. But who has heard of Foamhenge in Virginia? It is a full size replica of the real Stonehenge made of EIFS. Who could dream up a cooler name?

You often hear the term “green building” as consumers seek to purchase homes that are often built using recycled materials or are low in energy usage. Both are important goals, but they must be pursued in a way that preserves a home’s ability to manage and repel moisture.

Residential re-roofing contractors are by definition working on a building that could have underlying problems, including improper ventilation, undiagnosed roof leaks and mold.

The RSMC has compiled a list of myths about mold. These four points will address builder and owner concerns as it relates to the “M” word.