As far as thermal storage systems go, this project near Sapporo, Japan may just take the cake.

According to this article, the project is hoping to slash cooling costs for the airport by 30 percent by harvesting snow, storing it year-round with heat-insulating materials, and using it to chill liquid in the cooling system during the summer.

What's interesting about this project is that most thermal storage systems work differently. What's more common is for the system to make ice during off peak times, reducing utility costs. Ice is then used to cool the building during peak electrical periods during the day.

This system in Japan is a double win. Not only does it reduce costs, but it also reduces emissions since the snow is essentially free, unlike a thermal storage system that uses electricity to make ice.

I wonder though how much snowfall a city has for a system like this to be economical. Officials in Japan are hoping the system will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 2,100 tons, according to the article.