To meet the increasing food demand, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) can be used to increase crop yield. However, such systems are energy intensive in harsh climates, increasing cost and environmental burden. Energy use in CEA can be minimized by identifying the key factors influencing energy demand based on seasons and climates, which is largely unstudied. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to estimate the yearly energy requirements for maintaining temperate climates in CEA. This study also examined the effect of time resolution on model accuracy, as well as how the energy requirements were influenced by ambient climate, material, and adequate internal climate. The model includes the effects of evapotranspiration and setpoint vapor pressure deficit, which are mostly neglected for annual energy calculations. Two types of hot climates were studied: humid subtropical and hot desert. The results showed that a temporal resolution of two hours was suitable for energy modeling in hot climates. A daily average time resolution suggested heat storage as a viable strategy in humid climates (except during summer), and for the whole year in desert climates. Lower material transmittance effectively reduced cooling and dehumidification loads in both climates during summer, while lower heat transfer coefficient reduced heating and dehumidification during winter. Analysis of ventilation rates revealed that evaporative cooling could be pointless during humid days, and a mechanical dehumidifier may be required during winter months in humid climates. Meanwhile, evaporative cooling was effective in desert climate and lower ventilation rates were sufficient during winter for dehumidification.