diff --git a/.github/workflows/beta-release.yml b/.github/workflows/beta-release.yml
index f19d3e60..2802774f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/beta-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/beta-release.yml
@@ -97,13 +97,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Rust toolchain (for building native Python packages)
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
 
+      - name: Cache pip wheel cache (for compiled packages like real_ladybug)
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/Library/Caches/pip
+          key: pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+
       - name: Cache bundled Python
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: apps/frontend/python-runtime
-          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-rust
+          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-rust-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
           restore-keys: |
-            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-rust-
 
       - name: Build application
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm run build
@@ -181,13 +189,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm ci
 
+      - name: Cache pip wheel cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/Library/Caches/pip
+          key: pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-
+
       - name: Cache bundled Python
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: apps/frontend/python-runtime
-          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-3.12.8
+          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-3.12.8-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
           restore-keys: |
-            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-
+            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-3.12.8-
 
       - name: Build application
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm run build
@@ -265,13 +281,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm ci
 
+      - name: Cache pip wheel cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~\AppData\Local\pip\Cache
+          key: pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+
       - name: Cache bundled Python
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: apps/frontend/python-runtime
-          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8
+          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
           restore-keys: |
-            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-
 
       - name: Build application
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm run build
@@ -335,13 +359,21 @@ jobs:
           flatpak install -y --user flathub org.freedesktop.Platform//25.08 org.freedesktop.Sdk//25.08
           flatpak install -y --user flathub org.electronjs.Electron2.BaseApp//25.08
 
+      - name: Cache pip wheel cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/.cache/pip
+          key: pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+
       - name: Cache bundled Python
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: apps/frontend/python-runtime
-          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8
+          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
           restore-keys: |
-            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-
 
       - name: Build application
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm run build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index c6b6ddc9..7512b627 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -46,13 +46,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Rust toolchain (for building native Python packages)
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
 
+      - name: Cache pip wheel cache (for compiled packages like real_ladybug)
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/Library/Caches/pip
+          key: pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+
       - name: Cache bundled Python
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: apps/frontend/python-runtime
-          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-rust
+          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-rust-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
           restore-keys: |
-            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-rust-
 
       - name: Build application
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm run build
@@ -123,13 +131,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm ci
 
+      - name: Cache pip wheel cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/Library/Caches/pip
+          key: pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-
+
       - name: Cache bundled Python
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: apps/frontend/python-runtime
-          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-3.12.8
+          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-3.12.8-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
           restore-keys: |
-            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-
+            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-arm64-3.12.8-
 
       - name: Build application
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm run build
@@ -200,13 +216,21 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm ci
 
+      - name: Cache pip wheel cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~\AppData\Local\pip\Cache
+          key: pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+
       - name: Cache bundled Python
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: apps/frontend/python-runtime
-          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8
+          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
           restore-keys: |
-            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-
 
       - name: Build application
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm run build
@@ -261,13 +285,21 @@ jobs:
           flatpak install -y --user flathub org.freedesktop.Platform//25.08 org.freedesktop.Sdk//25.08
           flatpak install -y --user flathub org.electronjs.Electron2.BaseApp//25.08
 
+      - name: Cache pip wheel cache
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/.cache/pip
+          key: pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            pip-wheel-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+
       - name: Cache bundled Python
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
           path: apps/frontend/python-runtime
-          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8
+          key: python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-${{ hashFiles('apps/backend/requirements.txt') }}
           restore-keys: |
-            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-
+            python-bundle-${{ runner.os }}-x64-3.12.8-
 
       - name: Build application
         run: cd apps/frontend && npm run build
diff --git a/apps/frontend/scripts/download-python.cjs b/apps/frontend/scripts/download-python.cjs
index 215af7db..6c48dc89 100644
--- a/apps/frontend/scripts/download-python.cjs
+++ b/apps/frontend/scripts/download-python.cjs
@@ -609,12 +609,12 @@ function installPackages(pythonBin, requirementsPath, targetSitePackages) {
 
   // Install packages directly to target directory
   // --no-compile: Don't create .pyc files (saves space, Python will work without them)
-  // --no-cache-dir: Don't use pip cache
   // --target: Install to specific directory
+  // Note: We intentionally DO use pip's cache to preserve built wheels for packages
+  // like real_ladybug that must be compiled from source on Intel Mac (no PyPI wheel)
   const pipArgs = [
     '-m', 'pip', 'install',
     '--no-compile',
-    '--no-cache-dir',
     '--target', targetSitePackages,
     '-r', requirementsPath,
   ];