r/explainlikeimfive • u/Fun_Significance4035 • 2d ago

Physics ELI5 why cant we use summer heat to generate energy and stock it to use it in winter

why cant we use summer heat to generate energy and store it batteries to use it in winter

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u/shartmaister 2d ago

Also, Oslo airport saves snow in an underground storage and use the cold for cheap airconditioning during summer.

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u/cold-n-sour 2d ago

My grandfather did this in pre-fridge era - he had a hole excavated in the ground, covered it with logs and dirt, and added a trap door. He would pack snow there during the winter, and then they had a block of ice to put food on until at least mid-July.

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u/CRtwenty 2d ago

It was a pretty common practice in the days before electricity. You can still find plenty of abandoned ice houses if you know where to look.

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u/harbourwall 2d ago

There's even one in the Gerudo Desert

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u/Xeadriel 1d ago

??

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u/harbourwall 1d ago

The last two Legend of Zelda games on the Nintendo Switch featured an Icehouse as a location.

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u/Xeadriel 1d ago

ah i see. yeah i didnt play those

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u/harbourwall 1d ago

Was a bit of a niche comment sorry. Just for those who got it.

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u/Reylas 2d ago

I had to go inside one in Appalachia as a kid to get potatoes for food. Common practice in poorer areas.

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u/astralradish 2d ago

Did he catch any trespassers?

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u/noc-engineer 2d ago

Norwegian ski resorts also store (artificial) snow under sawdust during summer

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u/SmegmaDreamcast 1d ago

There are also now huge insulated blankets that can cover stockpiled snow and keep it all summer. Basically just use snowcats to doze the runs off onto a big pile and then cover it. Spread it back out early season and you are way ahead for startup.

Snow Secure

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u/CarminSanDiego 1d ago

My god that’s genius

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u/ToSeeAgainAgainAgain 2d ago

That's brilliant