Historic mansion in Rhode Island, US to be outfitted with geothermal climate control system
Marble House, Newport, RI (source: The Preservation Society of Newport County)
Carlo Cariaga
19 Jan 2026
The Marble House, a Gilded Age mansion in Rhode Island, will soon have a heating and cooling system utilizing geothermal energy.
The Marble House, a Gilded Age landmark, in Newport, Rhode Island will soon be equipped with a geothermal climate control system, representing a union of 19-th century architecture with modern energy efficiency technology. The project is being undertaken by The Preservation Society of Newport County at a cost of about USD 1.5 million, and will be completed by late spring of 2026.
“Geothermal is a winning investment for our properties,” said Trudy Coxe, CEO and executive director of The Preservation Society of Newport County. The Preservation Society has already implemented similar systems in four other historical sites since 2015.
A total of 21 wells have already been drilled at the backyard of the Marble House, each one reaching a depth of about 425 feet (~130 meters). The constant subsurface temperature, about 55 °F / 13 °C will provide heating during winter and cooling during summer with the aid of electric heat pumps and air handlers.
The new system will help reduce fuel oil consumption by up to 80%, thus significantly lowering the carbon footprint of the mansion. It will also be critical in maintaining indoor humidity at around 50%, which is a key factor in preserving historic materials such as textiles, paintings, paper, and wood.
RELATED: CeraPhi Energy to evaluate geothermal solution for historical home in Suffolk, England
Source: The Newport Buzz
