This paper investigates, by simulation study, the potential of five different ventilation and cooling strategies with regard to energy efficiency and thermal comfort in different climates. A 5-zones building simulation model is set-up considering a typical office building. The results demonstrate a high potential for night ventilation strategies in cool climates with low ambient air temperatures. In temperate climates, water based low-energy cooling technologies based on radiant cooling make use of the cool ground in summer. Active cooling provides good thermal comfort in warm and hot climates with high and fluctuating cooling loads. The results also point out that the use of different comfort models has a significant influence on the comfort rating. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.