Designing Healthy, Sustainable Homes Without the High Price Tag
How Retrofit Design is helping Indianapolis homeowners build better, not just bigger.
When most people hear “sustainable design,” they picture something expensive, complicated, and out of reach — certifications, paperwork, and endless costs.
But for Jeremy Portillo, founder of Retrofit Design in Indianapolis, sustainability isn’t about chasing labels. It’s about creating homes that feel right — homes that are durable, efficient, and comfortable for real families.
“You don’t have to get a certification to make a building efficient,” Jeremy says. “If you can make your house really airtight and insulate it well, you’re halfway there.”
Jeremy’s journey toward sustainable design started early.
“In college, I got my LEED accreditation — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” he explains. “That kind of set me on a course, because I wanted to do work that was durable and better prepared to defend against the environment and the ever-increasing storms we’re seeing these days.”
At first, he applied that training in the Department of Defense world — designing military facilities and simulator buildings. But it wasn’t until he moved into residential design that sustainability became personal.
“Once I got into residential, I realized there’s so much more out there. It’s not just about LEED. There are simpler ways of approaching it. Because LEED is very tedious and expensive and time-consuming. But there are other programs — and simpler techniques — that make homes more sustainable, more healthy, more efficient, more comfortable.”
For Retrofit Design, sustainability means practical solutions — not perfection. Airtight envelopes. Smart insulation. Wall systems that save energy without breaking the bank.
A common misconception is that sustainability always adds cost. But Jeremy’s team works with clients to find the balance point between upfront spending and long-term savings.
“Costs go up, sure,” he admits. “But savings go up too. And if you’re not going for full certification, there’s a lot of savings to be had.”
He explains that the secret isn’t always fancy tech — it’s in how you design from the start.
“Sometimes it’s not worth it to spend the extra money because if it’s a small addition that’s only 20% of the total footprint, and the rest of the house is just bleeding energy year-round, what’s the point? You can make one corner really sustainable, but if the rest of the home is leaking air, it’s a losing game.”
That kind of honesty — balancing ambition with reality — defines Retrofit’s philosophy. Each project includes discussions about what homeowners can do if there’s extra budget available, but never pressure to overspend.
“We find ways to build better, safer, cleaner homes and additions to existing homes — and we find ways to stay in budget,” Jeremy says.
Jeremy calls himself “a bit of a hippie,” but it’s clear his approach is grounded in both tradition and technology.
“I’m a traditionalist at heart,” he says. “A lot of my designs are representative of the era in which they were originally built — if it’s a renovation or an addition. Even on new builds, I tend to lean toward things that have a very classical approach.”
That balance — modern performance with timeless design — gives his projects a rare warmth. It’s sustainability that respects both the planet and the past.
For Jeremy, sustainable design isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a reflection of his values — care for people, community, and the homes that hold them.
“Being more of a hippie, I guess, in a lot of ways, kind of an old-world view of what houses could be or should be,” he says. “It’s not about checking boxes; it’s about designing something that lasts.”
That philosophy extends to his clients — many of whom live in older homes inside Indianapolis’s I-465 loop. These are families who love their neighborhoods but need homes that work better for how they live now. Retrofit Design helps them get there — sustainably, affordably, and beautifully.
Q: Can you make a home sustainable without getting it certified?
Yes. Airtight construction, quality insulation, and material choices can create huge efficiency gains without the red tape of certification.
Q: What makes a home “healthy”?
A healthy home reduces toxins, improves air quality, and maintains consistent temperature and humidity through better materials and construction.
At Social Brick, we believe sustainability should be accessible — not exclusive. That’s why our platform connects homeowners with architects like Jeremy Portillo, who design for real life: homes that are better built, smarter, and kinder to the planet.
Whether you’re planning an addition, renovation, or new build, we’ll help you find an architect who shares your values — efficient, beautiful, and built to last.
Find your architect today at socialbrick.org