A recent UBC Okanagan study shows that snow cleared from winter roads can help reduce summer air-conditioning bills.
The UBC study, a computer modelling exercise, found directing a building香蕉视频直播檚 air handling units through a snow dump香蕉视频直播攕now collected and stored from winter road clearing operations香蕉视频直播攃an reduce the need to use air conditioning during warmer parts of the year.
香蕉视频直播淲hat this study shows is that it is possible to use snow to reduce electricity consumption in structures such as apartment buildings,香蕉视频直播 said Kasun Hewage, an associate professor of engineering at UBC香蕉视频直播檚 Okanagan campus. 香蕉视频直播淲e also now know that using material from snow dumps to cool buildings can also help to reduce the greenhouse gasses that air conditioning units emit.香蕉视频直播
The study included simulations for large buildings and accounted for the different types of equipment needed in both conventional systems with industrial cooling units and snow-dump based systems, which insulate snow collected during winter months to use during the summer.
香蕉视频直播淲hile further research is needed, the potential of this type of system to be used for large buildings and institutions looks promising,香蕉视频直播 said Rehan Sadiq, a professor of engineering at UBC香蕉视频直播檚 campus in Kelowna. 香蕉视频直播淎side from making good use of waste material, this type of system could eventually help large organizations such as municipalities recoup some of the considerable costs associated with snow removal.香蕉视频直播
The study香蕉视频直播攄one in collaboration with UBC graduate student Venkatesh Kumar香蕉视频直播攚as recently published in the journal Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy.