Snow Utilization as Cold Heat Source - Advantages and Features

In the summer of 2014, the air-conditioning performance of four different snow-utilizing facilities in Niigata and Nagano Prefectures in Japan were evaluated. Systems with a snow storeroom, a rice depot and spa resort, showed the advantages of stable and flexible air temperature control with high deodorizing and dedusting effects. The investment will be earned back in less than 10 years. The system with a snow mound, shiitake mushroom greenhouses, showed that the annual cost is cheaper than that of the heat pump unit. A highway lavatory with daily snow delivery was not cost effective.