Check out U of T Scarborough's Earth Tubes

Earth tubes between Instructional Centre and Environmental Science and Chemistry Building

South of the Environmental Science and Chemistry Building is a grassy square with some unusual features.

Known as earth tubes, they are part of the building’s many energy-reduction features.

Earth tube technology draws in fresh air from the outside which is then stored in an air handling unit in the basement.

Thanks to the constant temperature of the earth beneath the surface, the tubes act as a passive heat exchange system which tempers the air before entering the building.

Recent studies conducted by Natural Resources Canada have found Earth tubes can warm winter air by about 14.3°C and cool summer air by nearly 6.8°C.