Newport Mansion Chateau-sur-Mer Installs New Geothermal Climate Control System

As of 2018, the Breakers in Newport, RI, the former summer “cottage” of the Vanderbilts, had no AC.

But that changed when the Preservation Society of Newport County installed a geothermal climate control system in the opulent mansion in 2018. Since it was one of the first homes in the country to have electricity, it was only fitting that the Breakers remained on the cutting edge of technology.

Now, construction is underway to install the same system over at Chateau-sur-Mer. One of the earliest of the Newport mansions, the building helped usher in the Gilded Age with its lavish parties and grand High Victorian architecture and interiors.

Contractors are digging 21 wells, each 425 feet deep, along the south side of the mansion’s property. The closed-loop geothermal system works in all seasons — year round, a refrigerant will run through the new underground pipes, picking up the near-constant 50 degree Fahrenheit temperature and bringing it back into the house where it’ll cool the temperature in the summer and help to heat it in the winter.

Geothermal energy has a range of applications depending on how deep into the earth the wells are drilled. Besides utilizing the stable temperatures for heating and cooling buildings, geothermal systems dug much deeper can use the earth’s heat to generate electricity. And some other geothermal systems are direct use, meaning they take the heat from deep underground and use it to directly provide heat and hot water, often for industrial purposes.

The project is expected to reduce Chateau-sur-Mer’s use of heating oil by up to 80 percent. It’ll also help stabilize humidity levels in the house, which is especially crucial during muggy summer days to protect decor like textiles, leather, paintings, paper and wood. Built long before the advent of central air, the Newport mansions have historically had little summertime climate control — meaning temperatures can soar and humidity can damage historical furnishings and decor.

“For several years, we have been aware of the need for better climate control at Chateau-sur- Mer,” said Trudy Coxe, CEO of the Preservation Society, in a statement. “This initiative will help us fulfill our mission to protect and preserve this National Historic Landmark while also reducing our carbon footprint.”

Since the project will use existing shafts inside the house for the required pipes and wiring, little modifications will need to be made to the existing building. Chateau-sur-Mer, currently closed for the winter, is expected to reopen to the public on June 2.

The project’s general contractor is Donovan & Sons of Middletown, RI, while subcontractors include Shamrock Electric, Precision Well & Pump Systems, and Rhode Island Artesian Well Inc.