To solve the problems of traditional grounded kang, such as uneven temperature of kang-surface, low thermal efficiency, large exhaust heat loss, excessive indoor pollutant concentration, etc. this research puts forward a new combination of elevated kang and radiator heating system. A traditional grounded kang and the new heating system were built respectively in two same southern rooms of a new farm house in Yushu County, Jilin Province, to test the temperature of kang-surface, exhaust temperature, indoor temperature, and indoor pollutant concentration for the quantitative analysis of thermal performance of this new system. Under the same fuel consumption, the temperature standard deviation of the kang surface of the novel kang was 4.8 ℃ lower than that of the traditional ones while the temperature at the head-side was 9.4 ℃ lower. The efficiency of the heating system was 21.26% higher than that of the traditional grounded kang based on counter-balance calculation, and the indoor average temperature increased by 5.7 ℃. In addition, the CO concentration indoors decreased to the standard range. When getting the same indoor temperature, the new heating system can save 1 972.2 kg straw, which can reduce 2 603.3 kg emission of CO₂ and 1.0 kg emission of SO₂ per year. The test results show that the new system can not only solve the problems of traditional grounded kang but also improve the indoor environment significantly and has significant effect on energy saving and emission reduction. Thus, the popularization and application of this new combined operation system can reduce the heating energy consumption considerably and improve the living environment of residences in northern rural areas.