Health Starts at Home

Smart, Green, or Healthy: Understanding the True Impact of Your Home Environment

• Holly Jean Mullen

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We explore the crucial differences between smart, green, and healthy homes, clarifying common misconceptions and revealing how each impacts your wellbeing in different ways. This foundation-setting episode kicks off Season 2 with insights into the booming wellness real estate market and why understanding these distinctions matters for your health.

• Smart homes prioritize convenience and connectivity but aren't automatically healthy due to increased EMF exposure
• Green homes focus on energy efficiency and environmental impact but can create issues like poor ventilation when sealed too tightly
• Healthy homes are specifically designed with human biology in mind, supporting sleep, air quality, and reducing toxin exposure
• The wellness real estate market has grown to $584 billion globally and is projected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2029
• Many chronic health issues may be connected to home environments, not just diet and lifestyle
• Season 2 will cover building science, EMF remediation, non-toxic design, family wellness, and navigating new construction
• Holly has transitioned from health coaching to full-time real estate, focusing on the intersection of homes and wellness

If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's next.


Your home should help you heal—not hold you back.
If you’re ready to explore how your environment could be impacting your energy, mood, sleep, and overall wellness, you’re in the right place. The Health Starts at Home Podcast is here to help you rethink health from the inside out—starting with where you live.

Curious about your symptoms or feeling “off” at home?
My free Body Wisdom Journal is still available and now includes prompts to help you track not just food and mood—but also your environment. Because sometimes, it’s not you... it’s your house.
→ Download Your Free Body Wisdom Journal Here

Connect with me on Instagram @hollyjean.healthandhome for real life, red flags, and wellness real estate tips you won’t hear anywhere else.

New episodes drop weekly—subscribe, share, and leave a review if this show speaks to you.

Because health starts at home—and yes, that includes yours.


© 2024 Holly Jean Mullen

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Health Starts at Home podcast, where we explore the connection between our health and the home environments we live in.

Speaker 1:

I'm Holly Jean Mullen, functional wellness practitioner turned real estate pro, here to help you rethink how your space impacts your sleep, stress, hormones, mood and everything in between. No topic is too taboo, from hidden toxins and frequencies to healthy building design and smarter home buying. We dive into what most people aren't talking about, so you and your loved ones can feel better in the places you spend the most time. Whether you're health conscious, health curious, or just exploring the rabbit holes of why you might be feeling off, you're in the right place. No pressure, no perfection, just real conversations about things that matter, because health starts at home, but it doesn't stop there, so let's get to it. But it doesn't stop there, so let's get to it. Hello, hello, welcome back friends, welcome back to the Health Starts at Home podcast. It has been a little bit of a pause between seasons, but I am very excited to be back. I am your host, holly Mullen, and today we're kicking off season two with a conversation that will lay the foundation for everything else to come. So, if you care about wellness, if you're curious about how your home might be impacting your health, or you're thinking about building or buying with more intention. This is for you.

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Before we dive into today's episode, in case you missed my updates on social, let me just catch you up to speed here. I am no longer health coaching. I phased out my clients and I've transitioned into real estate full-time. I have been doing real estate for the past three years as an added service to my health clients because our home environments are so closely intertwined with our health, are so closely intertwined with our health. But I did start phasing out my clients towards the end of last year and I started 2025 without any health clients going full-time into real estate, but I did not announce that officially until just a few weeks ago. So that is the update. There is a huge need in this market and I'm excited to be one of the few blazing this trail in wellness, real estate and so on.

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This topic today it's going to be pretty much super relevant because if you've had the unfortunate experience of needing to hang out in the mold community, then you've probably heard people talk about net zero or passive homes, and these are types of energy efficient or green homes. But there is nuance there, like with most things with health and if you've listened to the show or you've been following me for a while, you know I am always just going back to nuance because, just like anything in this health and wellness space, there is nuance and it's appropriate to break it down. So let's dive into this hot topic of smart homes. Green homes, healthy homes Are they the same? What are the differences? What do they even mean? Because you hear them thrown around a lot, especially in marketing, on Zillow listings, at open houses. In the health and wellness space, you're hearing these words as well, but do we actually understand what they mean? And, more importantly, do they all mean wellness? So let's start with just some quick definitions.

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First, smart homes. Smart homes are centered around convenience and connectivity. Really, we're thinking all things tech. We're thinking your Nest thermostat, those smart thermostats, security cameras, voice-activated lights. Your Alexas, those really cool refrigerators that have the full smart screen on the front that you can make your grocery lists on and you can watch TV and you can do all cool things in your fridge. You'll text you when you're out of milk. These homes are popular for obvious reasons they make our life easier.

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But smart homes aren't automatically healthy. In fact, the increase in wireless radiation from the smart devices, the Wi-Fi systems, the Bluetooth, the blue light and screen exposure blue light and screen exposure it's all going to create a less healthy home environment, especially if you're someone who's sensitive. If you have little kids, this is going to be something worth paying attention to because they have a cumulative effect. We're starting to see more and more research pointing to non-native frequencies things like the Wi-Fi, the Bluetooth, the smart meters, cell towers as being linked to metabolic diseases, certain cancers, chronic inflammation, a whole host of things. Some research even argues that these exposures may even have deeper root cause in disease connection than even diet and lifestyle alone. So it's pretty serious stuff.

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So it's not just Holly being crazy with the electronics, it's actually. It's got some science here, folks, and I get it. That's not what we want to hear. We like our devices and I truly think that there has to be a way that we can have the convenience of tech and be able to integrate them into our lives so we can have the convenience and the simplicity that they can really add to our lives. But also there has to be a way to mitigate or offset that or to do something. There has to be a way that we could evolve with the tech around us and not sacrifice our health fully. So I think that could be another conversation. When we were just in China recently, that was actually something that kept coming up for me and for Toby and the conversation I wanted to keep coming back to because, seeing it firsthand, like the tech's not going away, we have to find a way to protect our health and grow with it. So, anyways, I'm kind of getting off.

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Course, that's smart homes, but it gets a little bit messier. Um, so high EMF environments. They've also been shown to increase mold growth. And let's just spice things up Mold exposure can then make someone more sensitive to EMF, so it becomes this vicious cycle. So you're reacting to your environment, but your environment is also reacting right back. It's this total catch-22 scenario, and no one's talking about it in mainstream real estate or really in the wellness space, and that's why this matters and that's why I'm bringing this conversation to us today. So let's move on from that.

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Green homes green homes focus on energy efficiency, environmental sustainability. These are the homes that use solar panels, they have the low VOC paints, they have high efficiency HVAC systems, they're using more sustainable building materials. This all sounds fantastic, right? The goal here is to reduce environmental impact of the home, and many of these features can also have crossover. They also improve indoor air quality and they reduce utility costs Utility costs but again, green doesn't automatically equal healthy. Some green certifications are prioritizing energy efficiency, so they're prioritizing it so heavily that homes are now being sealed too tightly, which can lead to poor ventilation, moisture buildup. Moisture buildup can lead to mold.

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There is a fair amount of greenwashing in this category, and let's just take solar panels, for example. Yes, my husband is in the solar business. Solar panels reduce electricity use. They can help with your energy costs, they reduce demand on the grid, but the manufacturing and the waste from them is anything but green. It also exploits people like entire populations, and destroys resources from where the mining activities are taking place for the raw materials needed for them. Plus, the inverters from panels increase EMF exposure in the home when they're placed on the roof, and smart meters are often a detrimental source of negative health symptoms, especially if placed on an exterior wall on the other side of a bedroom where someone is sleeping. So we can't deny the fact that green homes, while they do have some perks, there's definitely also some downsides and some ugly sides of it that aren't talked about as well. And again, and there's still some crossover too, so they all kind of like mix and mingle.

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Healthy homes, on the other hand, are designed with human health at the center. So that means we're looking at clean air, clean water, non-toxic or low-tox materials. We are looking at proper ventilation, low EMF design, mold-resistant building practices, as well as materials. We're looking at spaces that support our natural rhythms, our circadian rhythms, our sleep, our nervous system regulation. These homes don't just focus on reducing your carbon footprint or making life easier. They are built and designed to help you feel and function better. Here are the conceptual distinctions Smart homes serve your schedule, green homes serve the planet and healthy homes serve you and your family.

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Now, that's not to say that these categories are mutually exclusive scenario. A home can be all three have little parts of them, but too often buyers assume that green means healthy or that smart equals better, and that assumption can cost them. It can cost in both health and in dollars. So why are these types of homes gaining popularity? And I think the reason for that is because we're in the middle of this huge shift in a lot of arenas, but at home, really, people are waking up to the fact that our environments affect our biology, up to the fact that our environments affect our biology and that chronic symptoms aren't just about genetics or eating right and exercising Like that advice is tired, tired and played out and it's not working for people, because we are a population of people who keep getting sicker, not better.

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And it's not just all sugar and stress, which is where we like to point the fingers. Oh, let's blame it on sugar, let's blame it on stress. Sure, that is a piece of the pie, so to say, but it's also what's off gassing in our walls, what's circulating through our air vents and what is our body absorbing while we sleep. It's how we feel in our neighborhoods and around the people in our community and the areas that we live, and it's just as much about those things as it is about the structures that we reside in. And the world just continues to get crazier.

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And as a culture, I feel like we are craving more simplicity. I've been talking about that. I think that was something I talked about at the end of last year was just this return to simplicity, this return to self and slowing down. People want that. We really really do. We want more safety, but we don't want it coming from the government. We want to feel more safe in our bodies and in our homes. Um, we want to have more peace at home, and this means that people are finally starting to ask better questions. They're asking better questions about the information they're receiving. They're asking better questions about, um, how they're living, what it means to be healthy. They're asking better questions about where they live. And, in the context of real estate, people are starting to ask questions now, before they move, before they build or buy or sell or renovate or relocate, because they have more information about what it actually means to be healthy and what it means for them to be happy and healthy, and realizing that, hey, my environment plays a role in this at home, in our neighborhoods and in our homes, our actual homes.

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For so long, we really started rethinking the way we actually live in our homes. They're no longer just a place to come and go and sleep. It is a place to live and do life. So this is where the wellness real estate market comes in. This market has grown to $584 billion globally in 2024. And it's predicted to double to 1.1 trillion by 2029. And these projected increases are anticipated as more people prioritize health and the wellbeing in their living spaces, and I saw this even just in the most recent parade of homes that I just did here in Tulsa.

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Wellness features in the home are already starting to show up, seeing homes with new construction, homes with gym spaces built into them not just a community gym that you can go to, they're in the home with infrared saunas built into them, built with more outdoor space, more giant windows, more natural light it is it's arriving here, guys. So in the U S, a lot of the wellness real estate boom has shown up in more of the luxury listings and commercial developments in, like the resorts and the hotels and stuff. That has really been where we've seen the concentration of this industry, but we are finally starting to see that trickle into everyday residential neighborhoods. In the parade of homes it was more of the high-end homes, but even in the more everyday track homes we are seeing more incorporation of more big windows and natural light and communities being designed around more wellness-type features. So this is where I come in and possibly where you come in too, whether you're a homeowner, a builder, a parent or just a wellness warrior, not just a wellness warrior.

Speaker 1:

I know we're the backbone of a lot of things, but health enthusiasts this is where there is opportunity to pivot into something that is more aligned. There is untapped real estate here, so to say, in terms of opportunity and whether that is some sort of role in this industry. We are still early. This is still grassroots, we're still in this education phase, but it's happening and it's exciting and it's happening quickly phase, but it's happening and it's exciting and it's happening quickly. Why now? Why pay attention to this? I think people are just really starting to connect the dots.

Speaker 1:

Like I said, covid, for as messed up of a situation as that was, I think in a lot of ways it really was a blessing in terms of people starting to pay attention to what really matters, and that is our health, that is our relationships, our families, it's how we live, it's where we live and it's how we spend our time, and spending time doing things that we enjoy and with the people that we love. A lot of people are really rethinking how they want to be spending their days. People are thinking that their homes aren't just a backdrop for their lives anymore. They are a main character, the main character, energy here a big player in their health, and we're looking at everything from brain fog, inflammation, sleep disruption, anxiety, inflammation, sleep disruption, anxiety and we're going from people not asking could it be the house to people now starting to be open to the possibility that could it be the house, could it be where I live.

Speaker 1:

And then we toss in growing concerns about indoor toxins, emf exposures, mold and even environmental shifts intense storms, wildfires, flooding and whether you chalk that up to natural cycles, human interference, weather modification technology, the result is the same and it's that our homes need to be more resilient. So if you've ever felt like your house might be working against you or that there's just something quite not right about either your actual home, your physical environment or just your location Maybe just where you're living isn't working for you, or maybe there's just something off about where you live or how you're living and you just can't quite put your finger on why or if you're just ready to make your home match the way you want to feel, then you're in the right place. That's what the show is all about. I want to explore all of that.

Speaker 1:

This season we are going deep into the stuff from building science to EMF remediation from non-toxic design and home detox strategies to body detox strategies after exposures. I want to talk about family wellness and navigating new construction with confidence. How do you work with builders? How do you put together a team of construction advocates for you? How do you know what's best to choose for you in your home and your renovation or your DIY project or your build project that's going to support your health goals or your health concerns for you or your family? I want to talk about all of it. I want to bring on guest experts. I already have some booked. The schedule is filling up. I'm very excited we're going to be sharing client stories. I want to give you real world tools that you can use to create a home that supports your healing.

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I don't want people just functioning in their homes.

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I don't want you floundering in your home.

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I don't want this to be another one of those wellness topics where there's gatekeeping.

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I don't want to hide things behind a paywall. I'm sick of that. This needs to be information for all, without barriers. So we're laying it out and I am learning a lot as I go too. I'm not going to sit up here and pretend that I know it all. I absolutely don't. I have definitely learned a lot. I've come a long way, but I'm not going to pretend that I have all the answers, because I don't, so a lot of this will be us figuring it out together. So I am so glad you are here, because health starts at home and, yes, that includes yours. So I'm confident and I'm excited this is going to be our best season yet.

Speaker 1:

Thanks so much for tuning in. If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review or share it with someone who needs it, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's next. This podcast is not affiliated with any brokerage and is the sole creative work and opinion of me, holly Jean Mullen. All content is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing shared should be taken as professional medical advice, real estate guidance or legal counsel. Please always consult the appropriate licensed professional before making decisions about your health, your home or your finances. The views and opinions shared by my podcast guests are their own and don't necessarily reflect my views or those of this platform. So until next time, remember health starts at home, but it doesn't stop there.

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Holly Jean Mullen

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