A three-year study was undertaken to evaluate radiant floor panel and forced-air heating systems for use in northern residential housing. Two generic forms of a radiant-panel floor heating system and a conventional duct distribution, forced air heating system were installed in a test house and monitored. Both systems were controlled using air temperature sensing thermostats. Comparisons of measured energy use in the test house indicated that neither form of heating system had a distinct advantage in terms of energy efficiency. Total energy use with each was within 5% of one another. There were also differences in globe temperatures and temperature distribution.

KEYWORDS: radiant heating, floor heating, basements, warm air heating, comparing, performance, efficiency, energy consumption, housing.