I’m Risa Suzuki

Greetings and a warm welcome! I’m so glad you found me! As a native Seattleite with a lifelong passion for homes, interiors, health, and wellness, I became a Certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant (BBEC) to help others tame their toxic homes. My deep love for these areas allows me to arm my clients with the tools and confidence to create healthier surroundings by identifying and tackling the root causes of unwell interiors with clear, practical solutions.

Although chemicals in our living spaces can literally make us sick, it’s hard to prioritize taking action against something we can’t see until an illness stops us in our tracks. We expect government agencies to keep us safe in our homes (spoiler: they don’t), or we get overwhelmed when faced with making the “right” choices for our entire house. It’s tempting to deal with potential toxins “another day.”

I’ve been there! The chronic illness that turned my life upside down was triggered by an unhealthy home that I avoided dealing with, so I understand. Painfully. Whether you’re currently dealing with a serious illness or hoping to relieve mild symptoms, I’ll take the confusion and paralysis out of eliminating health risks from your home.

Inspired by how much cleansing toxins from my environment improved my health, I created my Home Wellness Evaluations as the fastest and simplest path to detoxifying your space. During your customized evaluation, I’ll identify solutions that will move the needle most in your unique situation. Together, we’ll create the healthiest living space for you and your family!

How my story started

Like most people, I grew up oblivious to environmental toxins. My knowledge of home hazards was limited to Mr. Yuck stickers on cleaning products, and I never considered the ingredients in detergents, dryer sheets, and air fresheners, or the chemicals in building materials and furnishings. Air and water quality were not on my radar. Toxins found me anyway.

Looking back, my health struggles started as an infant with allergic reactions to disposable diapers and soaps, leading to allergy shots and asthma inhalers throughout childhood. Allergies were uncommon then, and I was the only one among my friends with them. However, I never thought much about my allergies, especially after they faded in my teen years. I had no idea that they were an early warning of environmental concerns.

After college, I entered the tech industry, spending all day on the computer. Migraines began to plague me, requiring shots, but I blamed stress. In 2008, when I bought a newly built house, my health issues became unavoidable: horrible headaches, relentless allergies, exhaustion, and brain fog. Doctors found nothing physically wrong, and I began to doubt my experiences. Little did I know that the home I worked so hard for was actually hurting me.

Later, I learned that it takes an average of 7.6 years to diagnose chronic illnesses and that women are more susceptible, but also more likely to be missed by doctors. I also discovered that the building products in new homes off-gas, are the most toxic for the first 18 months, and contain at least one hundred and fifty chemicals associated with allergies, birth defects, cancer, psychological disorders, heart disease and strokes, central nervous system disorders, multiple scelerosis, and Alzheimers to name just a few . No wonder I was feeling sick!

What do you mean I have a chronic illness?

Despite childhood allergies, I had no idea what it meant to have a chronic illness. Considering myself generally healthy, I believed I was doing all the right things: exercising a few times a week, teaching skiing and snowboarding, hiking or cycling on weekends, and being mindful of my diet. However, as my health continued to decline with no answers from doctors, despair set in, and I began researching on my own. That’s when I discovered the International Institute of Building Biology and Ecology.

The Institute offers the most credible and long-standing training program for creating healthier homes. I enrolled in their three-year program to become a certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant. It was like unlocking a hidden trove of knowledge about building materials, indoor air quality, water contamination, mold, and electromagnetic fields, all supported by scientific research and medically backed studies.

The program taught me the skills to assess and remediate my home environment using precise measurements and data. I set specific health goals, systematically monitored my symptoms, tested different scenarios, and tracked changes with instruments and meters until my health improved.

Sharing my road to healing

My original goal was to address my health and reclaim my life, but I soon realized many others had health stories like mine. Stunned by the widespread presence of toxins in our homes and their impact on my health, I needed to spread awareness of this hidden danger. With years of education and trial and error on my own health, I strive to help clients resolve this overlooked cause of chronic illness so they can reclaim their health and vitality.

Times have changed since my health struggles began, and while more information is available online, it’s harder than ever to identify credible advice. With years of professional expertise, the empathy gained from lived experience, and measurable results from data-driven solutions, let me show you the difference a healthy home can make in your life.

Let’s transform your home!

My mission is to teach you manageable and affordable strategies to tackle your space at your own pace, without feeling overwhelmed. You’ll learn why specific solutions are a priority, how they’ll benefit you, how to implement them, and how to keep your home toxin-free for the long haul. Through in-person or remote assessments, you’ll gain the information, tools, and confidence to make future decisions independently.

If you want to reduce toxins and improve your health with the guidance of someone who understands your journey, I’m here for you. With my personalized Home Wellness Evaluations, we’ll identify the most effective solutions for your unique situation. Together, we’ll create a space that lights up your heart whenever you walk through the door and supports your well-being for years to come.

Let's Chat!

Schedule your FREE 15-minute consultation

Services

Infrared Mold Consult

Clean Air Assessment

Pure Water Systems Consult

EMF Testing

Qualifications

Risa is a Certified Building Biology Environmental Consultant educated through the US-based International Institute of Building Biology and Ecology, the longest-running and best-regarded training program for interior environmental health assessments and solutions. She has over 25 years of experience in the technology sector, including leading global teams at Microsoft. Risa is a member of the National Association of Environmental Medicine and the Northwest Ecobuilding Guild and serves on the education committees for both organizations. She is also a Certified Transformational Life Coach with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington.

Client Testimonials

"Before finding Risa, I worked with a few building biologists who recommended measures that were extreme, permanent, and out of my budget. Risa is flexible and dynamic in how she thinks. She tailors her evaluation and recommendations to meet your specific needs, lifestyle, and budget. After working with Risa, I had a greater understanding of small measures I could take to reduce my daily exposure and a more attainable 'big picture' plan, which was very comforting. I no longer felt like we had to pack up and move to reduce exposure and my symptoms."

Brooke H., Nurse Practitioner

"The assessment helped us feel so much more at peace, knowing that there were specific interventions we could implement immediately and others more gradually. We feel calmer, and the energy within and around us feels more settled, so to speak. Risa is knowledgeable, detailed, and thorough in her work. Thank you so much, Risa. We are very grateful for your time and energy."

Nilinjana K., Naturopathic Health Coach

"Before working with Risa I wanted to learn more about EMFs. I would often buy products as a quick fix not knowing if they actually worked. I have 3 little kids and want to protect their health. I have done a lot of work with my ND to be the healthiest version on myself. After working with Risa I was able to make instant changes in my home. I feel more at peace in my home and she also helped me understand what products work and that certain things I thought were helpful were more harmful! I have more energy now not using some of my products!"

Ashley Housman

"I couldn’t sleep in my own home anymore. I’d been sleeping at a friend’s house for a few months. Now I’m symptom-free during the day and am on track to be back to normal 24/7. I can sleep in my own bed again. I spoke to another building biologist and had the usual experience. Risa is caring and professional and she will listen to you. If she doesn’t know the answer, she’ll get it for you. She really cares about helping people."

Maureen O.

"I was experiencing a host of health issues, and nothing seemed to be improving them. I am still on a recovering journey, but I can definitely tell certain things are mending much faster now. The biggest benefit of working together was her detailed knowledge of everything, and being able to not only explain this all, but from personal experience as well. Working with Risa gave me a great peace of mind."

Shannon K.

"I felt like Risa gave us a lot of really good information and practical tips and advice. I had actually already hired a building biologist before I hired Risa because he was about 3 x cheaper than she was but he was not very helpful so you get what you pay for. I would say that Risa’s assessment was much more than 3x more helpful than the initial one. She is really knowledgeable, caring and extremely generous with her time. I felt like I could connect with her and trust her. I have been recommending her to other people who are EHS and also to health practitioners who may have EHS patients."

Sara U.

"The unknown is what caused me the most anxiety. The assessment gave me the peace of mind I needed and the power to change what I had control over. Risa is amazing! she is passionate about her work and dedicated to helping others live their healthiest life possible. she has an incredible wealth of knowledge which she is so generous with!!"

Jen W.

"As a nutritionist with a special interest in environmental factors in health, I was already well aware of the detrimental impact of EMF’s, their role in contemporary health issues and familiar with more common sources of exposures and starting steps. Risa was referred to me by one of the top naturopaths in the country and has been a tremendously valuable and generous resource for guiding me to the next level. Risa has helped me to prioritize steps and gone above and beyond with her time and guidance. She is passionate and dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives through her training in this arena. Thanks Risa!!"

Cathy C., Nutritionist

"Through the last 7years I have dealt with chronic health issues and sensitivities. I was overwhelmed with deciphering how to assess my living environment. I immediately noticed an increased level of ease and comfort in my own home. I could feel the “buzz” in my home is much less and my underlying anxiety subside. My sleep drastically improved. I used to wake up every night between 12-4am and now I sleep through the night. I would give her 5 stars!!"

Abby P.

"Before Risa came to help us make our home safer, we felt lost because we did not know which source of information to trust and where to start. Risa made us feel comfortable to ask questions and she took time to answer them thoroughly. Her solutions were always practical and her instructions to make improvements were easy to understand. We’re grateful for her service. I hope more people will learn about what she does and will take advantage of her knowledge and services. I highly recommend her."