Welcome back to The Entrepreneur’s Journey. In this episode, Michael Pelosi speaks with Kevin Brenner, founder of Healthy Home Energy & Consulting. Kevin shares his unexpected journey from podiatry school to building luxury homes for billionaires, and ultimately to pioneering sustainable construction practices as a “building scientist.” He discusses his transition from Brenner Builders to Healthy Home, and how energy efficiency, education, and environmental stewardship have shaped his mission. Kevin’s story is a masterclass in evolving your career with purpose and principle.
Tune into this episode to also learn:
● How Kevin transitioned from medical school to multi-million-dollar homebuilding.
● What it means to be a “building scientist” and how that knowledge impacts home performance.
● Why Healthy Home focuses on education, not sales, to stand apart in the HVAC industry.
● How to approach energy efficiency and net-zero building practically and affordably.
What we discussed
● [00:01:12] Kevin shares how podiatry school led to carpentry, and eventually to starting Brenner Builders.
● [00:04:06] Why he left high-end homebuilding despite success: stress, pressure, and client dynamics.
● [00:07:26] The significance of building his first spec house and how it sparked exponential growth.
● [00:08:58] Most ambitious build: a 30,000 sq ft mansion for a hedge fund manager with extravagant amenities.
● [00:12:56] How passion for energy performance led to the founding of Healthy Home.
● [00:15:15] Kevin defines building science and how he teaches it across his company.
● [00:20:06] The ethos behind Healthy Home: "We give a shit." And how they train to that level.
● [00:22:17] Why 95% of HVAC installs are wrong — and how Healthy Home does it differently.
● [00:24:32] The importance of testing outcomes and guaranteeing measurable results in energy performance.
● [00:25:54] What “net-zero” really means and how Kevin achieved it in his own home.
● [00:28:17] Converting an existing home to net-zero — is it possible and practical?
● [00:29:41] Kevin's future plans: growing Healthy Home and focusing on education to fight climate change.
3 Things To Remember
- Career paths don’t need to be linear — following your passion can lead to greater purpose and innovation.
- Teaching employees the science behind their work results in better service and industry transformation.
- Sustainable building isn’t just idealistic — it’s practical, measurable, and critical for future generations.
Useful Links
Connect with Michael Pallozzi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpallozzihfm/
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