Written by Heather Blackman, BPI's Client Relations Representative

When most people think about home improvements, they often focus on reducing energy bills or replacing aging equipment. But a home is much more than a collection of walls, windows, and mechanical systems - it is an environment that directly affects our health, comfort, safety, and quality of life.

Recent research from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2024 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) and the National Center for Healthy Housing’s 2025 Healthy Housing Fact Sheet paints a compelling picture: millions of American families continue to struggle with homes that are inefficient, uncomfortable, and, in many cases, unhealthy.

According to the RECS, the United States has approximately 132.5 million occupied homes, and nearly 43.6 million households experienced at least one form of energy insecurity during the previous year. That means roughly one out of every three households had difficulty heating or cooling their home, experienced equipment failures, or struggled with energy costs.

The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) reports an equally concerning statistic: 45 million U.S. homes contain at least one health or safety hazard. These hazards include moisture problems, mold, deteriorating building materials, lead hazards, radon, carbon monoxide risks, pest infestations, damaged roofs, faulty wiring, broken stairs, and inadequate heating systems.
Although these reports examine different issues, they point to the same conclusion: the condition of our homes has a direct impact on our health, safety, and financial well-being.

A House Works as a System
One of the fundamental principles of building science is that a home functions as a connected system. Every component—including insulation, air sealing, ventilation, heating and cooling equipment, moisture management, windows, and even occupant behavior—affects the performance of the entire home. When one part of the system fails, other problems often follow.

Poor insulation and uncontrolled air leakage increase heating and cooling costs while creating uncomfortable indoor temperatures. Excess moisture can lead to mold growth, wood rot, and poor indoor air quality. Improper ventilation allows indoor pollutants to accumulate, while combustion appliances that are not properly installed or maintained can introduce dangerous carbon monoxide into the home.

Building science helps identify these relationships before they become expensive repairs or serious health concerns.

Healthy Homes are High-Performing Homes
The NCHH fact sheet reminds us that housing conditions affect millions of Americans every year.
Approximately:

• 30 million Americans live with asthma.
• Nearly 590,000 children between the ages of one and five have elevated blood lead levels.
• More than 21,000 people die annually from unintentional falls.
• Approximately 41,600 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer.
• Around 400 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning unrelated to fires.

Many of these risks are connected to housing conditions that can be improved through proper maintenance, inspections, and building performance upgrades.
For example:

• Air sealing and controlled ventilation improve indoor air quality while reducing drafts.
• Moisture management helps prevent mold growth.
• Proper insulation keeps indoor temperatures more consistent and reduces condensation.
• Combustion safety testing helps identify dangerous carbon monoxide risks.
• Radon testing and mitigation reduce long-term exposure to radioactive gases.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms provide simple, affordable life-saving protection.

These are not separate goals—they are all part of creating a healthier home.

The Value of Building Performance
The RECS data also shows that older homes, poorly insulated homes, and homes with single-pane windows experienced higher levels of energy insecurity than newer, more efficient homes.
Fortunately, improving home performance does not always require major renovations.
Many homes benefit from relatively simple improvements, including:

• Managing moisture
• Air sealing
• Sealing ductwork
• Adding insulation
• Maintaining heating/cooling
• Improving ventilation

Professional home energy assessments using tools such as blower doors, infrared cameras, duct leakage testing, combustion safety testing, and ventilation evaluations allow contractors to identify the root causes of comfort and efficiency problems instead of simply treating the symptoms.

Investing in Healthy Homes Pays Off 
One of the most encouraging findings from the National Center for Healthy Housing is that healthy housing improvements provide measurable financial returns.
According to the fact sheet:

• Every $1 invested in asthma home visiting programs returns $5.30 to $14.00 in benefits.
• Every $1 spent reducing lead hazards returns approximately $1.39 in benefits.
• Every $1 invested in poison control centers saves about $13 in healthcare costs.
• Installing smoke detectors provides a societal benefit of approximately $28 for every dollar spent.
• Installing carbon monoxide detectors returns more than $7 for every dollar invested.

These findings demonstrate that healthier homes not only protect families—they also reduce healthcare costs, improve productivity, and strengthen communities.

Opportunities for Homeowners and Contractors
For homeowners, understanding building science means making smarter decisions when improving their homes. Rather than replacing one piece of equipment at a time, a whole-house approach helps identify which upgrades will provide the greatest improvements in comfort, efficiency, durability, and health.

For contractors, the growing demand for healthier and more energy-efficient housing presents significant opportunities. Homeowners increasingly want professionals who can explain why their home feels uncomfortable, why moisture problems persist, or why energy bills remain high despite recent improvements.

Contractors trained in building science can provide comprehensive solutions that improve home performance while helping families save energy and live healthier lives.

Building Better Homes for the Future
As energy costs continue to fluctuate and climate-related weather events become more common, creating healthier, more resilient homes has never been more important.
The data from RECS and the National Center for Healthy Housing reminds us that the best home improvements address more than energy efficiency alone. By applying building science principles, homeowners and contractors can create homes that are safer, healthier, more durable, and more comfortable for generations to come.

To learn more about the research discussed in this article, visit the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey and the National Center for Healthy Housing’s Healthy Housing resources.