A seaside getaway for the eco-conscious: Maine inn offers carbon offsetting

The Inn by the Sea, set on a pristine stretch of the Maine coast just south of Portland, is keen to keep up the deluxe standards that have earned it a AAA four-diamond rating. At the same time, managers say they are eager to do what they can to keep carbon dioxide emissions under control. Lamps in the guest rooms and public spaces have been fitted with energy-efficient light bulbs. In October, the hotel began using a mix of regular oil and fats and vegetable oils instead of pure oil for heating. Air conditioning is not offered in the inn's 43 suites, even in the height of summer: Guests are encouraged to open their windows and let in breezes from the ocean. In February, the inn began a carbon-reduction arrangement with Carbonfund.org, a Silver Spring, Md., organization whose mission is to counter the negative effects of carbon emissions. Under the plan, guests voluntarily pay a fee to counter the carbon impact of their travels on the environment. Derrick Daly, the head gardener, inspired the inn's environmental awareness initiatives six years ago, when he started replacing the annuals and other exotic flowers in the inn's bounteous garden with indigenous perennials.