Natalie and her partner Paul have noticed an enormous difference in the comfort and warmth of their house since having ceiling and floor insulation installed.

Natalie, Paul and their one year-old son, Nathan, have lived in their 1970s brick house in Roxburgh township since 2001. "It was so cold that, in winter, we couldn't put our feet on the floor when we were sitting in the living room, and we wouldn't put Nathan on the floor."

In April 2006, through the EnergyWise Home Grant Scheme, the house was fitted with:

• blanket glass-fibre ceiling insulation (R3.2 - far exceeding the Building Code requirement of R2.5)
• perforated reflective foil under-floor insulation (R1.3 - meeting the Building Code requirement)
• two door draught excluders
• four compact fluorescent light bulbs.

"It has made a huge difference… Even when we have snow the house is cosy. We're really, really happy with it.

"Lots of people have noticed a difference, and have asked me about it. They actually come in and say 'God it's hot in here!' It hasn't got a chill like it used to have. Really brilliant."

Paul's parents weren't eligible for the scheme but they were so impressed that they put in insulation after feeling the difference in Natalie and Paul's house.

Natalie also really likes the compact fluorescent light bulbs. "They give a really nice light. I'm the sort of person who goes around turning the lights off, Paul's really happy about not having to sit in the dark any more!"

Natalie and Paul have a woodburner and installed a heat transfer unit to vent heat from the lounge to outside the bedroom doors. "Because the woodburner is so good, it heated up our little room so much that we were sitting here with the windows and doors open. Our feet were freezing and our heads were cooking." The venting system has helped warm up the bedrooms.

Another thing that Natalie has noticed since installing the insulation is no more weeping windows. "My windows used to just pour with water. And I've not had to mop up any water since we had this insulation… It's made such a difference."

For safety reasons, insulation couldn't be installed under the floors of the bathroom and toilet. Natalie says the bathroom is much colder as a result and the windows are still soaking in spite of extractor fans and a heat-light.

Natalie and Paul made a contribution of around $300 towards the cost of their insulation. It cost Paul's parents about $3500 to install the same level of insulation.

"It's been overwhelming, actually the effect on our house, we both sit here in amazement," says Natalie.