An In-depth Analysis of the Energy and Exergy Performance of Radiant Heating Integrated with Ground Source Heat Pumps in Building Environments

Addressing global priorities such as energy conservation, the reduction of fossil fuel consumption, and the urgent need to combat climate change is of paramount importance. One promising way to achieve these objectives is the exploration of radiant heating and cooling (RHC) systems as alternatives to conventional building climate systems. RHC systems hold the potential to make substantial contributions to both energy efficiency and the enhancement of indoor thermal comfort. RHC systems have garnered attention for their capacity to not only provide an acceptable level of thermal comfort but also their alignment with renewable energy sources. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of energy and exergy performance was undertaken in a building environment. This environment was equipped with a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system linked with radiant panels (RPs). The research was conducted within the confines of the Science and Technology Application and Research Center at YTU. To ensure the precision and reliability of the conducted analyses, a range of critical measurements were taken. These measurements encompassed parameters such as the input and output temperatures of both the ground and panel water, power consumption data for all the equipment within the heat pump (HP) system, and recordings of indoor and outdoor air temperature values. This meticulous data collection process serves as the foundation for the subsequent comprehensive assessment. Furthermore, as part of this study, measurements were carried out under various configurations of the radiant panels. The objective was to evaluate the system’s exergy destruction and overall performance across different scenarios. By comparing the outcomes of these diverse configurations, the research aims to provide valuable insights into the optimal use and efficiency of RHC systems in real-world applications. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.