Lyman Estate getting energy retrofit

By John M. Guilfoil, Globe Staff

A historic estate in Waltham is getting a boost from some 21st century technology.

The Lyman Estate in Waltham was awarded a grant from the Patrick administration to perform a “Deep Energy Retrofit” on the property, which promises to cut the estate’s energy usage in half.

The $650,000 grant was received in partnership with the Architectural Heritage Foundation and The Trustees of Reservations. The Waltham property will receive $310,000 from the grant for its retrofit. The rest will allow smaller properties in Conway/Ashfield and Ipswich to also get a green upgrade.

The modern-day technology upgrade will be done without disturbing or changing any of the period details that make such properties a draw for tourists and history buffs every year.

“At the Lyman Estate we will show that we can create great change in energy use without damaging the historic fabric or building aesthetics, which is central to our mission at Historic New England,” said Ben Haavik, a team leader at Historic New England, which manages these three and many other properties across the region. “We will be able to reduce the energy costs and maintain the historic integrity of the Lyman Estate allowing us to focus more resources on public programming and additional preservation of the property.”

The Department of Energy Resources received 114 proposals for $16.25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. Eleven projects across the state were selected based on their ability to create jobs, leverage cost sharing, and achieve scalable and dramatic improvements in the energy efficiency of buildings.

The Lyman Estate, also known as The Vale, was built in 1793 by shipping magnate Theodore Lyman. This Federal-style mansion remained in the family until 1952 when it was donated to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, now known as Historic New England. It is a National Historic Landmark that draws 20,000 visitors per year and is a popular wedding destination.