78 business elite canada
H
NOV 2014
“The first few years were very difficult because we started right when there was a
recession starting and there was no market for fiberglass windows.”
Battistel said, partly in response to the leaky
condo crisis of the 1990s that caused billions
of dollars in damage to buildings and housing
units, particularly in B.C.
Turning the focus to energy
conservation
After two years in Seattle, Battistel returned
to become one of the principals at RDH. By
2007, the leaky condo crisis had tapered off
and some of the partners at RDH began talking
about new business opportunities. With water
penetration resistance well under control, the
partners turned their attention to energy con-
servation.
“We thought about how we could best help
the industry improve energy conservation in
buildings and recognized that windows are typ-
ically the weakest link thermally in the building
