In this paper, the energy saving potential of passive design for shopping centers in the early design stages is quantitatively evaluated through standardized modeling and simulation. With cold regions taken as an example, three common standard geometric models and operating parameters of shopping centers with typical climatic characteristics were extracted. Grasshopper and EnergyPlus were chosen as the standard parametric modeling software and the energy simulation software, respectively, while 24 passive design parameters from the site, building and envelope that affect the energy-saving potential of shopping centers were summarized. Finally, by simulation, the energy saving potential rankings of the 24 passive design parameters in three standard models were obtained. The result shows that the entrance wind speed, corridor space, the ratio of skylight area to roof area and roof heat transfer coefficient are four important design parameters that affect the energy saving potential of shopping centers in cold regions, providing designers with quantitative guidance for design optimization in the early design stages.