Swedish Hospital Uses Stored Snow to Stay Cool in Summer
In the city of Sundsvall, Sweden, there's a hospital employing a unique system that transforms snow collected from the city during winter into a source of cooling for the summer months. Here, the snow cleaned up from streets and parking lots is not merely seen as a burden that needs to be eliminated during winter.
The amassed snow is stored in a large reservoir, and months later, it is utilized to meet the cooling needs of the hospital.
40,000 cubic meters of snow is hiding under a layer of wood chips.
The system's operation seems quite straightforward at first glance, yet it's based on a large-scale engineering plan. Throughout the winter, snow is collected and stored in a waterproof reservoir measuring approximately 140 by 60 meters.
According to information provided by regional authorities, about 40,000 cubic meters of snow is transferred to this area each year. In the spring, a layer of wood chips about 20 centimeters thick is spread over the mass of snow. This layer reduces heat exchange with the outside environment, causing the snow to melt more slowly.
As the summer months approach, the snow begins to melt in a controlled manner. The melted snow water, which is approximately 2 degrees in temperature, is circulated through the hospital's heat exchange system. This water assists in cooling various areas within the building.
In the summer, snow leftover from winter is used instead of air conditioning.
Cooling in hospitals is not just for comfort, but also crucial for the regular operation of technical systems. Servers, cooling and freezing areas, as well as certain medical equipment need to be kept within specific temperature ranges.
The system in Sundsvall offers the perfect solution to this need. According to CPG, before the system was implemented, the annual electricity consumption for cooling was at a level of 500 MWh. With the new system, this consumption has dropped to as low as 50 MWh.
This translates to a reduction of up to 90% in the electricity used for cooling. The system also reduces the need for traditional cooling gases. As a result, the snow cleared from the city in winter turns into a source of energy savings for the hospital in summer.
The history of the project is also noteworthy. The snow pit was built in 1999, and the system began operating in 2000. Therefore, the project stands out as a large-scale cooling solution that has been in use for many years, rather than a short-term experiment.
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