Abstract: Energy-based design method is a more comprehensive evaluation tool compared with strength and displacement-based methods for structural aseismic performance. In this paper a simplified energy-based design method is proposed, considering main structure damage for aseismic structures with passive energy dissipation systems. The hysteretic energy of structures is being dissipated by dampers and structural members together during severe earthquakes. Thusly, this method utilizes an equivalent damping ratio to determine the damage of the main structure and establishes the relationship between the equivalent damping ratio and main structural damage index through the ductility coefficient of the structure. At the same time, the formula is developed to solve dissipative energy of dampers and a step-by-step process is proposed. This is in stark contrast to the previous energy-based method that the proposed method has no iterative process and realizes damage control of the main structure at the beginning of design. At last, the simplicity and practicability of the proposed design method for buildings with passive energy dissipation systems is verified through a numerical case of 12-story frame.