Meet Your Neighbor: Russell Unger, Head, Urban Green Council

Russell Unger is the executive director for the Urban Green Council, a nonprofit group dedicated to green buildings—and just so happens to live in Prospect Heights. amNewYork sat down with Unger to talk about the state of energy efficiency in New York City.

Unger, 38, says that something that everyone can do is to patch up the average six inches of leaks around every air conditioning unit – which he says wastes energy, makes air quality worse, and also drains our wallets, according to the article.

AM New York asked Unger why we don’t have more solar panels on rooftops in the city, and he replied that it unfortunately takes a lot of money and effort up front. He says that instead, if all buildings were leak-free, well-insulated and fitted with energy efficient lighting, that could save just as much.

Unger also talks to the paper about CFL lights, noting that people should buy “warm” fluorescent bulbs instead of “daylight” bulbs, as they are actually brighter. As far as water-saving toilets, he says while they got a bad reputation in the 90s, they’ve been improved, and with regular maintenance, can save a lot. In fact, Unger told AM New York that he is currently renovating his Prospect Heights home to include dual flush toilets.

As for his number one pet peeve? He told the paper: “You know how retailers keep their doors wide open to the sidewalk, blasting the a.c. out? I hate that so much.”