Trails wind through maritime forest on the 60-acre property. 



"We've been able to cut that back incredibly by doing 

 some innovative things, but they're all off-the-shelf kind of 

 things. It's just a matter of thinking through your strategy," 

 Morgan says. 



For instance, incandescent lights are out, and energy- 

 saving fluorescent and halogen are in. Skylights let the sun 

 brighten rooms. Ceiling fans stir and cool the air. Low-flush 

 toilets and spring-loaded faucets have been installed to cut 

 water usage. 



A computer controls the timing of cooling and heating 

 cycles in the administrative and conference buildings, keeping 

 energy demands and expenses down. In the guest rooms, where 

 temperature can't be controlled by computer, another innova- 

 tion is at work. Infrared devices sense when guests are in the 



room and allow them to set the thermostat at whatever tempera- 

 ture they like. But when they leave, the device sends the 

 thermostat to a setting predetermined by Morgan. On their 

 return, the thermostat resets to the guests' chosen temperature. 



This prevents the up-and-down switch-throwing that some 

 visitors go through trying to quickly cool off a hot room or heat 

 up a cold one. Usually, they aren't aware that these systems are 

 manipulating their room temperatures, Morgan says. And when 

 they are, they tend to give more thought to how they use energy 

 away from home, he says. 



"We were just throwing money away, and it's not being a 

 good steward with what we do," Morgan says. "There are other 

 ways to do things." 



The first rule of stewardship is to practice what you preach. □ 



E ducational Programs for the Young at Heart: 



School Kids to Seniors 



• Sound to Sea is the only residential environmental education program on the Outer Banks. With a focus on habitat, 

 it offers school children hands-on activities, a low-ropes challenge course and special evening programs. Last year, 85 

 school groups explored the barrier island and its five habitats (sound, marsh, pond, maritime forest and dune/beach). 



• Elderhostel is a continuing education program for seniors. Trinity Center offers courses on North Carolina Native 

 Americans, Carteret culture and local marine life. □ 



20 JULY/AUGUST 1997 



