This building, initially “affordable housing” in the 90s, was built with zero insulation, I learned from neighbors. No insulation between the roof and the apartment means that when it’s 106F degrees outside, the A/C has to run all day and still struggle, resulting in $200 electricity bills and the constant hum and vibration.

Insulation can be added, but will cost several thousand, when split between all roof-adjacent apartments – and the building will not pick it up. The math, as it is, is that doing it is worthwhile if we stay here for 10 years or more. But it looks increasingly likely that we won’t. In the meantime, I will pretend that I live on a space station – I heard they are not quiet places