Caroline Millswood’s renovated Victorian-style home in Melbourne’s north might have looked lovely, but when she tried to heat it in winter or cool it in summer, the hot or cold air leaked straight out. “In lots of the older housing stock in Melbourne you can change the internal temperature but only for about 10 minutes,” she said. Caroline Millswood in her new home that stays at a comfortable temperature. Credit: Joe ArmaoIt set her on a path to building a new home that would stay at a comfortable, even temperature: a high-quality and airtight home with excellent insulation that uses less energy to heat and cool. More people are learning about the benefits of thermally efficient homes, not only to keep warm in Melbourne’s winter, but also to stay cool in summers that are getting hotter.