House Is Medicine: How Better Homes Protect Our Health, Wallets, and Planet ft. Paul Kealey (EkoBuilt)

Today’s episode takes resilience somewhere we all live every single day—our homes.

For nearly twenty years, today’s guest has been quietly—and sometimes uncomfortably—challenging one of the biggest assumptions we make: that a new home is automatically a healthy one. Spoiler alert—it’s often not.

Paul Kealey is the Founder and President of EkoBuilt, one of North America’s most advanced sustainable homebuilding companies, and the architect of a philosophy he calls House is Medicine. His work sits at the intersection of human health, environmental responsibility, and long-term affordability—and it’s forcing the building industry to rethink everything from air quality to energy use to how homes actually affect our bodies and minds.

Paul designs and builds net-zero Passive Houses that don’t just save energy—they reduce stress, prevent mold and illness, protect families, and last for generations. His belief is simple but radical: our homes are not inert structures. They’re living environments. And when they’re designed poorly, they quietly compromise our health every single day.

In this conversation, we dig into why building codes aren’t enough, how “value engineering” often works against human health, what the pandemic changed about how we think about indoor air, and why resilience—at both the personal and planetary level—starts at home.

If you care about health, sustainability, affordability, or the future of housing, this episode will completely change the way you look at the place you live. 

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[Host: Lauren Scott] Welcome back to another episode of The Resilience Report. We always love it when there's a different angle to our episodes, especially when they build on previous episodes where our listeners have expressed that they love the topics. One of the areas that we've seen a lot of interest has been around the built space, and to date, we've mostly had guests coming in from the commercial real estate side. Today we have someone who is going to bring a fresh lens when it comes to the social and environmental impact of residential buildings. With that, I would love to welcome Paul to the show. 

[Guest: Paul Kealy] Thanks very much for having me here. 

My first question is right at the top: When it comes to the built space and human health impact, do you think there are misconceptions or gaps the average person has about residential buildings, and how did you get into challenging the status quo?

The biggest misconception in the home building world is the belief that a new home automatically equals a healthy home. People assume that if a home passes building code, looks clean, and uses modern materials, it must be good for health. But homes are not inert environments. They are living biological environments that shape respiratory, cognitive, and thermal conditions. A code-built home can trap moisture, accumulate toxins, and fluctuate in temperature. Many symptoms people accept as normal—like congestion, brain fog, poor sleep, dryness, humidity discomfort, and respiratory irritation—are often caused by the home itself. This misunderstanding is a big reason our company focuses so heavily on education around health.

Beyond human health, you also focus on planetary health through net zero and passive buildings. What does that look like from a business model perspective, especially when it challenges traditional construction norms?

Affordability is one of our biggest priorities. A healthier home is also a more energy-efficient home. We focus on minimalistic design to reduce materials and labor while making homes stronger and more resilient. The second major factor is strategic partnerships with material suppliers, logistics providers, and engineers. By increasing volume and simplifying systems, we reduce cost while maintaining high performance. This allows us to make healthy, energy-efficient housing more accessible.

When people make a home purchase, they often look at return on investment. How do you communicate ROI for an EkoBuilt home?

We believe the cost of a high-performance home should not increase cost of living. If the energy savings offset the increased construction cost, the owner sees no rise in monthly expenses. Operational costs will only continue rising in the future, so a home that minimizes energy use protects long-term affordability and avoids expensive retrofits later.

Since 2020, indoor air quality and human health in buildings have received much more attention. Did the pandemic change the way you talk about your work?

Absolutely. The pandemic forced people to confront the reality that air quality directly affects health. What used to be niche knowledge became mainstream. People stopped asking whether indoor air mattered and started asking how to improve it. Health is now central to how we communicate.

For people who haven’t had direct health issues from their home, how do you help them understand the importance of a healthy building environment?

Symptoms like congestion, fatigue, poor sleep, and humidity discomfort are universal in standard homes. These symptoms are the gateway to understanding. A home should be a highly oxygenated, stress-free environment. That requires airtightness, fresh air systems, and proper moisture control.

Do you think progress will come more from homeowners demanding better buildings, or from regulatory change?

Both matter, but regulatory change is essential. Codes need to move from prescriptive to performance-based standards with mandatory testing. Airtightness, insulation, moisture control, and vapor-open assemblies must become universal.

Is value engineering in residential construction similar to what we see in commercial buildings?

Health must be the foundation. Homes must be airtight, vapor open, thermally protected, and equipped with efficient fresh air systems. Eliminating thermal bridges is also critical for comfort and stability.

For homeowners in older houses, what are the first steps to improve health through retrofits?

The first priority is airtightness, followed by insulation and vapor-open assemblies. Retrofits can be costly, so they must be done correctly the first time to ensure long-term health and durability.

Was there a specific moment when you realized the opportunity to improve human health through housing?

Yes. When I was searching for my own home, older houses felt drafty, and new houses felt toxic. That led me on a personal journey to learn what truly makes a home healthy and affordable.

You’ve been in this field for about twenty-five years. How do you keep your passion for this work?

Responsibility drives me. Builders shape human health, especially for children. Long-term thinking is also critical. Homes must last for multiple generations, not just one.

Do you have mentors or thought leaders who inspire you?

Anyone who prioritizes responsibility over profit inspires me. I’m also inspired by people who use success to give back and those in service professions who dedicate their lives to protecting future generations.

What guiding principles do you hope to pass on to the next generation?

Design with intention and execute with precision. We face a global housing shortage, but that should not come at the expense of quality, health, or longevity.

Where can our listeners go to learn more about EkoBuilt?

Our website has a dedicated podcast page with builder questions, designs, cost estimates, and design incentives for listeners.

Finally, what will it take for businesses and leaders to be resilient going forward?

Resilience will come from alignment with human health, long-term thinking, and genuine contribution. Intentional living and building are essential.