Heating and cooling of buildings account for a significant amount of energy consumption, and as a result, CO₂ emission. With the global increase in demand for energy, the need for developing more efficient and profitable sources of renewable energy is gaining urgency. One of the most promising renewable technologies for thermal control of buildings is shallow geothermal energy, which uses nearly constant and moderate ground temperature as either a heat source or sink throughout the year. The use of geothermal energy heat pumps produces many benefits, including reduced energy consumption, environmental protection, less building maintenance, and comfort for building inhabitants. However, harnessing shallow geothermal energy introduces new engineering challenges. This paper examines the application of structural foundation piles as heat exchangers, discusses the challenges associated with their use, and presents the preliminary results of full scale test on energy piles group at Texas A&M University.