Comparing Radiant Panels, Heat Pumps, and Conventional Heating Systems

For their senior design project, Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering students Isaac Nuno and Enrique Sayas investigated whether ceiling-mounted electric radiant panels could provide a simpler, lower-energy alternative to conventional heating systems. Using DesignBuilder, the team modeled a two-story residence and a three-story commercial office building in Chicago. Six winter-season simulations compared radiant panels with a unitary heat pump and gas furnace in the residential building, and with VRF plus dedicated outdoor air and VAV with reheat in the commercial building. The results show that radiant panels are a promising low-energy heating option, particularly as part of a hybrid design that also provides ventilation, cooling, and optimized controls.