This study focuses on the thermal performance of a selected of residential buildings in Madurai a warm humid climatic region in India. This study describes the impact on thermal performance alternative building material used in building envelopes of residential buildings in Madurai, Tamilnadu, India. These systems included walls with mud, brick, clay tile and roofs with thatch, clay tile, and reinforced concrete with filler materials. After thorough on-site investigation and data collection, the information, along with regional weather data were input into the Ecotect energy simulation software for thermal performance evaluation. The objective of this research was to search for energy-efficient construction techniques suitable for settlements and incorporating traditional cultural values in a warm humid region characterized very hot summers with mild winters and low diurnal (day/night) temperature range. This was pursued by analyzing temperature and measurements within buildings constructed from a variety of traditional and modern materials. The thermal behavior and comfort, the patterns of energy use and the appropriateness of the different building techniques and materials were analyzed, compared and discussed. A demonstration was done to show how a building envelope reacts to outdoor conditions through graphic illustration and show ways in which the research can be extended by the creation of simulations using Ecotect software. This study shows that it is possible to provide a thermally comfortable space in warm humid region without using mechanical air-conditioning systems. © 2014 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.