"The only way that change is going to occur is if I make it happen."
"What makes a high-performance building? It's just good building sense."
"It really is about: how do we get contractors to be confident in the assemblies?"
Eight years ago, James Childre joined Building HVAC Science (Episode 29) with a somewhat resigned view of change in the construction industry: maybe better building practices would have to wait for a new generation of contractors. Today, his perspective is very different. Instead of waiting for the world to change, James is working to create that change himself.
James, founder of RedPoint Montana, spends his days inspecting, testing, and diagnosing buildings. After more than two decades of seeing the same failures recur, he began looking for ways to advance building science knowledge beyond the small group of professionals already committed to high-performance construction.
That effort began locally with a BS and Beer group in Bozeman and has now grown into the inaugural Cold Climate Conference, to be held October 12–14 at Montana State University. The event focuses on the real challenges of building in Climate Zones 5 through 8, including air sealing, exterior insulation, moisture control, ice dams, ventilation, HVAC distribution, and cold-climate heat pumps. James offers our listeners a 10% discount when using the code HVACBS
But James and Bill dig into something deeper: why do contractors resist practices that building science professionals already know work? James argues that the issue often isn't unwillingness. Changing assemblies, materials, and processes introduces real business and warranty risk. Education therefore needs to do more than explain what works. It needs to give contractors the confidence to actually implement it.
They also question whether calling something "high performance" unintentionally makes good construction sound optional, expensive, or specialized. What if airtightness, durability, proper HVAC design, water management, and commissioning simply became the baseline for good craftsmanship?
Perhaps the most compelling piece of James' vision is the connection to local high school trades programs. Proceeds from the conference will help expose students to building science tools and principles early, potentially putting the next generation of tradespeople on job sites already asking better questions.
The goal isn't another conference. It's lasting change in how buildings are built.
This episode was recorded in August 2026.
