Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to carry out design of energy-efficient houses in rural areas, and analysis on building energy consumption in cold rural areas of northern China. The typical residence was selected in rural areas in Lanzhou, and the impacts of different forms of doors and windows, and wall materials on the building energy consumption were analyzed; 24 different typical cold areas in northern China were selected, and the typical residence design heat load, the average heat load, and cumulative heat load in heating season were calculated. The main factors affecting the energy consumption were get, and the largest energy consumption and cumulative energy consumption in cold rural areas in northern Chins were further identified, so as to provide basis for the research of energy saving structure and materials of rural residence.