This study provides a comprehensive analysis on the impacts of passive and active design strategies with regard to energy efficiency and thermal comfort of a building in three different climate conditions, over a case study. A single-family building has been simulated to determine energy consumption and internal thermal comfort based on static (ISO 7730:2005) and adaptive thermal comfort (EN 15251:2007) criteria. A serious of simulations were conducted to optimize the building envelope by using Trnsys 17. The study carried out the results of different design options by the implementation of varied thermal mass, natural ventilation, shading, plant system and heat exchanger options for Lystrup, Paris and Rome climates. The results of simulations point out that a single building strategy without a promoter energy-driven strategy, is not enough to obtain an energy efficient building.