Deb McDonald knows how to get creative when it comes to heating and cooling her home.
"I used to put bottles of iced water in the freezer, and then I put them underneath the fan, and that was my air conditioning," she said.
In winter, the 67-year-old would don a woollen hat, chop and gather wood for the fire, and wrap herself in blankets to stay warm.
But the smoke from the fire and the exertion from collecting wood often exacerbated the symptoms of her chronic lung disease.
That was until two years ago when Ms McDonald was selected to be part of a pilot project called Climate Safe Rooms.
The project was spearheaded by community organisation Geelong Sustainability, with support from the CSIRO and Greater Geelong Council. It was funded with a state government Climate Change Innovation grant.
The scheme upgraded one room in 15 low-income households in the Geelong region, where at least one resident had a chronic health condition that put them at risk from heatwaves and extreme cold, to provide a safe place to go during extreme weather.
The rooms were retrofitted with a split system, a fan, roof and underfloor insulation, and the doors and windows were draught-proofed. Solar panels were also installed to keep energy costs low.
For two years, sensors dotted around the homes collected data on airflow, temperature, and human movement. The participants were also interviewed about their health and well-being.
Chief executive of Geelong Sustainability Dan Cowdell said the project aimed to help those most vulnerable to climate change and who often lived in houses that were "a bit like a glorified tent".
"It's often the people that can least afford it that need the most help to upgrade their home," he said.
"Just the up-front cost to make these kinds of upgrades is a real barrier to most people, particularly the lower income areas of our region where people are really struggling now with energy costs and just putting food on the table."
The changes to Ms McDonald's life since being part of the project were "a miracle", she said.
"Everything that's been done is healthier for me," she said.
"I can't explain how wonderful it is, and I just hope that this is going to go to more people who can't afford to have these things done on their own."
Scheme's benefits go beyond physical health
Deborah Haygarth does not have the luxury of choice when it comes to cooling her home.
The 65-year-old has multiple sclerosis and on hot days, finds it extremely difficult to regulate her body temperature.
"I will collapse if I get too hot," she said.
"Air conditioning is a necessity."
But cranking her air conditioner all summer in an old house took a hefty toll on her wallet.
"I used to see the curtains move and all the air coming through," she said.
Since being part of the project, not only have Ms Haygarth's energy bills dropped to almost zero thanks to the solar panels on her roof, the extra money has improved her mental well-being.
"I can afford to visit my kids more in Ballarat, Melbourne, and Hepburn and go out a little more and have a coffee with friends," she said.
"It's made a big difference."
Potential for thousands more homes to be upgraded
Chief executive of service provider Haven; Home, Safe in Geelong, Trudi Ray, said the project had the potential to help thousands of people who were struggling to pay their bills amid rising energy costs.
Last year 1,500 new people entered the service, and in Geelong alone, the organisation assisted with $37,000 just in utility bills.
"And that's not the whole entire bill; that is a portion," Ms Ray said.
"Some people are spending 60 per cent of their income on rent, and they may have a bit leftover for food or other items.
"The energy bills come along, and it's an exorbitant cost to them and certainly such a massive shock."
Ms Ray wants to see the Safe Room project expanded.
"There's a lot of people making really terrifying decisions about their health [and] the need for a warm environment," she said.
"They have to make these — we call them choices — but it's not a choice as to whether you can buy your medication or you can heat your house."
Mr Cowdell also wants the project scaled state-wide.
While data analysis and the final report are yet to be published, he said preliminary results indicated the project led to lower energy bills, improved health and comfort for participants, and better mental health.
"We've seen reductions in energy costs right across the board for participants. Some participants have received a $0, or near-$0, energy bill in summer," he said.
"Projects of 10s and 20s really aren't enough. We really need ... thousands of homes to be upgraded."
