In this interview, we learn more about longtime member of the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, Kurt Johnson. Kurt discusses his life journey and how his personal passion for indoor air quality became his life’s work.
by Vera Song, MIAQC Intern
- Can you tell me a bit about your background and what led you to Maine?
Kurt: I was born and raised in central New Jersey. Like most kids, I did all the sports growing up. I went to college but didn’t really have a defined direction. I spent about three and a half years at a two-year school because I was more focused on baseball and golf than studying.
After getting married and having two kids, we moved to Maine in 1995. My dad had Lou Gehrig’s disease, and I wanted to be closer to help him. When I got here, I didn’t have a clear profession, so I worked at a marina on Sebago Lake for about eight years, then moved into selling modular homes.
- How did selling homes lead to starting your own air quality business?
Kurt: When I was selling modular homes, I learned about air exchangers, systems that bring in fresh air and remove pollutants and moisture. They’re essential in energy-efficient homes because tight construction traps contaminants inside. When the housing market crashed around 2006, I was let go. That’s when I realized there was a real need to help people breathe better-quality air in their homes. So even though it was the worst time to start something in the housing industry, I launched my own business focused on indoor air ventilation and quality. That was 19 years ago, and the company is still running today. My son actually manages it now.
- What was it like starting a new company from scratch?
Kurt: The hardest part was that nobody knew who I was or what I did. Even if you have a great idea, getting people to understand why they need it is tough. I joined the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council early on to connect with others and spread awareness. It turned out to be a great partnership because we share the same mission—helping people live in healthier indoor environments.
- What’s one of your most rewarding experiences through your business or with the council?
Kurt: One of the most rewarding parts of my work is helping homeowners who are struggling with their health. I’ve met people who were ready to move out of their homes because they felt so sick or who had lived somewhere for decades and didn’t realize the air quality was hurting them. After installing an air exchange system, they’d call me in disbelief at how much better they felt, sometimes within hours. That’s rewarding. It’s really just about bringing in Maine’s clean outdoor air and circulating it indoors.
- You’ve mentioned radon and invisible pollutants. Why do you think they are such serious concerns?
Kurt: Radon is a big issue in Maine. It’s invisible and odorless but causes lung cancer, the number one cancer killer in the country. Over 200,000 people are diagnosed each year, and by the time most find out, it’s too late. The survival rate is low. That’s why awareness is so important. People don’t think about air unless they can see the problem, like black mold. But invisible pollutants are often the most dangerous.
- What advice would you give someone who wants to start learning more about indoor air quality or join the council?
Kurt: You don’t have to be an expert to start learning more about your own environment. Today, there are affordable indoor air quality sensors that track things like particulates, radon, VOCs, and carbon dioxide. Put one in your bedroom and check it in the morning, you’ll be surprised by what you find. Seeing the data makes the invisible visible, and that’s the first step to understanding the problem.
- What are some common misconceptions people have about indoor air?
Kurt: A lot of people think that “cleaning” equals good air quality, but that’s not always true. I’ve walked into homes that reek of bleach or air fresheners, and those chemicals can actually harm your lungs. Candles, hairspray, and even cooking without ventilation all add up. It’s not about eliminating everything; it’s about awareness and balance, understanding how your habits impact your air and taking small steps to improve it.
- It sounds like education and awareness are really central to your work. Why do you think this is important?
Kurt: You can’t fix what you don’t understand. People can’t see air, so they assume it’s fine. But poor air quality can affect everything: productivity, sleep, and long-term health. If we can get more people to care about what they breathe, even just a little, we’ll start seeing real change.
- Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share?
Kurt: I remember talking with an EPA official over a decade ago who said, “Our biggest challenge isn’t the problem, it’s getting people to change.” He was right. People are set in their ways. But I’m hopeful. We’ve made progress, and every person who learns something new, who installs a ventilation system, or who joins the council helps push that change a little further.
