In this analysis, the energy performance of a courtyard in buildings is investigated under conditions of different factors of climate, height, glazing type, and glazing percentage. The courtyard design used for the analysis was square in plan and surrounded by the building on all four sides. The glazing type and percentage for the courtyard walls were varied in the analysis. Weather data from four cities representative of climatic conditions of cold, temperate, hot-humid, and hot-dry were used. The computer energy simulation program DOE2. 1 E was used in this analysis as a tool to evaluate the impact of these factors on the energy consumption of the buildings. The results of the parametric simulation showed that the courtyard building thermal performance differed from climate to climate and even the impact of the measures or the variables on cooling, heating, and the total annual energy consumption differed with different variables' configuration. In general, the open courtyard building exhibits a better energy perfomance in hot-dry and hot-humid climates. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V