While it snows only in winter, the Japanese still want to use this snow to keep their airport cool in the hot summer months. They plan on pulling this incredible stunt off by covering the snow in heat insulating materials. Its expected that about 45% of the collected snow should last until summer - which I personally find it incredible to believe. But then again its the Japanese and not Mugabe promising to be a democratic leader or something ; so its easier to swallow.

If they can pull it off, its expected to decrease CO2 emissions per year by an amazing 2100 tons. Whats even more amazing is that similar systems have already been used succesfully since a few years in some areas of Japan. However its the first time that anything on this scale is being tried. The project goes online in 2010 at the New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan.

Source