In order to have an in-depth understanding of the metal ceiling radiant panel with capillary tubes, a radiant ceiling heating system is constructed to study the actual heating performance and thermal comfort by experiments. In addition, the energy saving potential of the novel heating system is discussed in terms of the COP （coefficient of performance） of the ground source heat pump and the exergy efficiency of the radiant terminal. The results indicate that the heating system shows high thermal stability and thermal comfort. When the system reaches a stable condition, the radiant heat transfer accounts for 62.7% of the total heat transfer, and the total heat transfer can meet the heating demands of most buildings. Compared to a radiant floor heating system, it offers advantages in a shorter preheating time, a lower supply water temperature and a stronger heating capability. The COP of the ground source heat pump is increased greatly when the supply water temperature is 28 to 33 ℃, and the exergy efficiency of the metal ceiling with capillary tubes is 1.6 times that of the radiant floor when the reference temperature is 5 ℃ The novel radiant ceiling heating system shows a tremendous energy saving potential.
