James has had a long interest in sustainability, from designing and building his own energy efficient house in 1986, to becoming a LEED Accredited Professional in 2005, and most recently his certification as Passive House Consultant in 2015.

He designs for energy efficiency and sustainability as a matter of course, using passive techniques as the initial strategy for the design of comfortable, low-impact, resilient buildings. He believes that healthy indoor environments and access to light and pleasing views are basic human biophilic needs that, when fulfilled, support our well-being.

He believes that every building is best designed with a high-performance building enclosure, of durable materials, well detailed, and thoroughly air-sealed. And he believes that efficient, adaptable, soundly constructed, and long-lasting buildings provide optimal utility and economy, while reducing environmental impact over the long run.