An active thermoelectric ventilated (ATEV) system coupling with multiple thermoelectric coolers and heat sinks was proposed in the present work. Depending on global energy balance and finite time thermodynamics, performance parameters were firstly presented, including cooling capacity, entropy generation and coefficient of performance (COP). Subsequently, two analytical sub-models respectively for parallel flow heat exchangers and counter flow ones were developed. Input current of thermoelectric coolers, quantitative numbers of thermoelectric coolers and two heat exchanger types (parallel and counter flows) were sensitively varied to optimize overall performance of this system. In a representative residential space, demo case comparisons between traditional thermoelectric cooling units and present ATEV system have been conducted. When the number of thermoelectric coolers exceeded eight, cooling capacity of this new system decreased remarkably. For parallel flow heat exchangers, the entropy generation rate (Se) firstly dropped and then started to increase; for counter flow heat exchangers, whereas, it continuously decreased with increasing unit cell numbers. Overall, present ATEV system integrating built envelope wall and thermoelectric modules simultaneously could be a promising technology to enhance space cooling, whatever for built residents or electronic facilities. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.