Rental prices are continually increasing particularly in large cities and worldwide. Prices for land and building plots are also increasing at the same time. Municipalities are bemoaning the lack of affordable housing space for the general population. In view of the climate protection objectives, cities and municipalities are therefore faced with the challenge of building affordable and energy efficient buildings. This applies equally for new constructions as well as refurbishments for existing buildings. Reconciling efficiency and cost-effectiveness will therefore be a focal topic at the 22nd International Passive House Conference in Munich. Accordingly, the key theme of this conference, where over 1000 experts in the field of energy efficient construction will come together, is “Passive House – it’s worth it!”. The Passive House Standard already fulfils the requirements for the Nearly Zero Energy Building which will apply for all new buildings in the European Union from 2020, and by the end of 2018 for all new public buildings. The Founder and Director of the Passive House Institute in Darmstadt, Dr. Wolfgang Feist points out the great progress that has been made with regard to energy efficient building components. In Bavaria, the federal state, as well as its capital Munich, offer several subsidy programmes for energy efficient construction and modernizations. “With its 10,000 Houses Programme, the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs promotes new constructions and modernizations as energy efficient and future-oriented buildings,” explains Rudolf Escheu, who is the Head of the Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency Department of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. In addition, in 2011 the Free State of Bavaria made the decision to build all new nonresidential buildings belonging to the state in accordance with the Passive House Standard.