Top Ways to Cool a Park Slope Brownstone without High ConEd Bills
Summer in Brooklyn is a time for dining alfresco, attending street festivals and all the other wonderful city activities we look forward to that enable us to soak up the sun.
But as much as we love the warm weather, East Coast humidity is no joke. When it comes to humid days, heatwaves and pre-war brick that holds heat into the night, a lack of preparation can leave you with discomfort and skyrocketing electric bills.
As independent real estate brokers in Park Slope since 1994 and property owners throughout Brownstone Brooklyn, we’ve learned a few tips over the years that can help you keep your home cool this summer.
Here are some of the top questions we hear from buyers, sellers and renters, along with our practical tips on how to address each one.
Tips for Brooklyn Owners and Renters
Can blackout curtains lower my ConEd bill?
Yes, they absolutely can. In fact, ConEd states that around 40% of unwanted heat enters your home through windows. Keeping shades, blinds or curtains closed during the peak sunny hours of the day can lead to massive summer savings on your bill when running an AC. Not to mention, it’s a non-permanent, landlord-friendly fix that’s ideal for Brooklyn renters as well as homeowners preparing for summer open houses.
What are the best landlord-approved ways to cool my Brooklyn rental?
Aside from using blackout curtains, there are several highly effective, eco-friendly brownstone cooling options that won’t risk your security deposit:
- Try a sheet: Hang a lightweight white sheet or fabric panel between your curtain and window glass to reflect heat back outside before it has a chance to warm up your room
- Smart appliance use: Limit appliance use during the hottest parts of the day. If you have more than one AC, run just one at a time. Avoid running your dishwasher or laundry at the same time to prevent grid overload and excess indoor heat. Try not to do heavy baking during the hottest part of the day.
- Strategize your layout: Close interior doors in your apartment so your AC unit doesn’t have to work extra hard trying to cool the entire square footage. Focus the cold air right where you are.
- Give your AC a break: Set your AC to a slightly higher temperature (ConEd recommends 78 degrees when you are home) and use floor fans to circulate the air so it feels cooler. Turn off the AC completely when you leave. According to ConEd, a 75-degree setting costs 18% more and a 72-degree setting costs 39% more.
- Look for the Energy Star® label: When buying a new AC, look for this label to ensure the unit is energy-efficient.
- Reverse your ceiling fans: Make sure your fan is rotating counterclockwise in summer so that the air is pushed straight down to create a cooling wind-chill effect. If you’re renting, ask your landlord if you could swap out a standard ceiling light fixture for a fan.
How can insulation lower my Brooklyn power bill?
Per ConEd, old or improperly installed insulation can lead to a loss of up to 30% of your home’s AC. For homeowners and brownstone sellers, ensuring proper insulation and air duct sealing in walls and basements maximizes comfort and efficiency. It’s one of the highest-return updates you can make to save money and energy during the summer.
How do I use window film and décor to block summer heat?
Applying temporary ceramic window film can block solar heat without you losing your light. Window film is excellent for historic Brooklyn homes with large window panes where you don’t want to block the view.
Consider pairing this with smart decor placement such as moving upholstered furniture, workspaces or beds away from direct sunlight paths so you aren’t sitting in heat zones during the afternoon.
How do you keep a top-floor brownstone cool without AC?
Keep your top-floor Brooklyn home cooler by strategically placing an exhaust fan to blow outward in a window on the side of your building that faces away from the wind. Then, open a window on the windier side of your apartment. Doing this results in a vacuum effect to actively pull out hot air and draw in a cool night breeze.
Does improving apartment cooling efficiency increase Brooklyn home value?
Yes, energy efficiency is a major selling point in today’s real estate market. Buyers enter open houses actively judging a home’s temperature and calculating their future utility costs.
According to an April 2025 National Association of Realtors® survey, 58% of agents report that energy efficiency in listings is valuable and 72% report that their clients prioritize utility bills and operating costs when purchasing a home.
This holds true specifically in Park Slope and surrounding Brownstone Brooklyn neighborhoods where premium historic homes prompt prospective buyers to look closely at eco-friendly home features and how well a property can naturally cool itself.
What to Look for When Buying in Brooklyn
What should I look for in a floor plan to ensure my home stays cool in summer?
Look for floor-through layouts with multiple windows on opposite walls. When buying in Brownstone Brooklyn, this type of layout promotes a natural cross-breeze. Also keep an eye out for:
- High ceilings paired with ceiling fans, or asking whether fans can easily be installed to replace existing light fixtures
- Whether the home features modern ductless mini-split AC systems, which are highly efficient
- Windows that are sturdy and properly framed to securely accommodate AC units
- Mature, leafy shade trees outside the windows, which can provide natural cooling during peak summer months
Do bottom-floor units stay cooler in summer?
Yes, garden and parlor-floor units stay cooler. Because heat naturally rises and brownstones are flanked by neighboring brick buildings, lower home levels are shielded from the direct solar radiation hitting the roof.
If you’re a buyer who is highly sensitive to heat or wants to minimize summer electric bills, focus your search on lower duplexes or garden-level apartments. If you fall in love with an upper unit though, these tips should help guide you in staying cool regardless of which floor you occupy.
Can too many south-facing windows make it harder to cool my Brooklyn home in summer?
They can definitely warm things up, but you can easily manage it. Southern exposure is sought after by Brooklyn buyers because it floods a home with gorgeous natural light all year round. However, this does mean the home will absorb more heat in the summer months.
To enjoy the light without the heat:
- Treat the glass with solar-reflective films
- Use light-colored blinds during the sunniest hours
- Position your furniture intentionally — for example, if you work from home, reconsider setting up your desk directly next to a southern-facing window
Why does this apartment feel like it’s holding heat from the rest of the building?
In multi-family brownstones and pre-war brick buildings, common hallways and entryways can act as heat reservoirs that trickle directly into individual units. Each time someone opens the building’s front door, hot street air enters the space, and because interior doors in older buildings are rarely weather-stripped, this trapped heat easily comes in.
If you’re buying a Park Slope co-op or condo:
- Be mindful of the temperature in the shared hallways
- Make note of the seal of the apartment’s front door
- Look for buildings with window layouts or existing fans in common areas
Bottom Line for Park Slope Residents
Whether you are trying to lower your power bill by implementing eco-friendly home features, selling your Park Slope brownstone or searching for your ideal historic home, understanding how Brooklyn properties handle the summer heat is essential.
And if you have questions about the Park Slope market or want to know what buyers or looking for this season, reach out anytime.
Buying or selling this summer?
