Paul Kealey: Why Most Homes Silently Damage Your Health and How to Fix It

This week, Tee welcomes Paul Kealey, founder of EkoBuilt, for a grounded conversation on why "the house is medicine." Paul explains how many conventional homes are built vapor-closed yet leaky, trapping moisture inside walls and roofs and creating long-term mold exposure that quietly degrades indoor air quality, stresses the immune system, and impacts overall health. The episode traces Paul's journey from teacher to builder and how discovering the Passive House Institute standard fundamentally changed his approach to home design. Together, they break down practical, achievable steps for improving existing homes—testing air and dust for mold and VOCs, integrating ERV/HRV ventilation, upgrading to MERV 13+ filtration, and sealing leaks with tools like Aeroseal, all aimed at reducing the cumulative "home hangover" caused by stacked environmental stressors. Tee and Paul also explore often-overlooked issues such as elevated overnight bedroom CO₂ levels, humidity imbalance, and wildfire resilience. Citing findings from the Harvard Healthy Buildings Institute, Kealey explains how poor indoor air can impair sleep quality and cognitive function. The conversation closes with a clear takeaway: healthier homes aren't about perfection, but about thoughtful design choices that steadily improve comfort, resilience, and long-term health.   Connect with Paul and EkoBuilt:  Website Instagram YouTube  Facebook TikTok    Follow Therese "Tee" Forton-Barnes and The Green Living Gurus: Austin Air Purifiers: For podcast listeners, take 15% off any Austin Air product; please email [email protected] and mention that you want to buy a product and would like the discount. See all products here: Austin Air   The Green Living Gurus' Website  Instagram YouTube Facebook Healthy Living Group on Facebook   Tip the podcaster! Support Tee and the endless information that she provides: Patreon Venmo: @Therese-Forton-Barnes last four digits of her cell are 8868 For further info, contact Tee: Email: [email protected] Cell: 716-868-8868   DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS GENERAL GUIDANCE AND NOT MEANT TO BE USED FOR INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PROVIDER OR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.   Produced By: Social Chameleon