German architect Kay Kunzel, a lecturer and accomplished designer of Passive House communities in Germany, and American architect, Ken Levenson, founding board member of the National Passive House Alliance and of New York Passive House, described their experiences and perspectives on this emerging standard for conserving energy in their respective geographies. Kay Künzel is the conceptual and formative head of the architecture office "raum für architektur” (space for architecture) in Wachtberg near Bonn. He is dedicated to green and energy efficient architecture. During his university studies he planned the highly respected project St.Gereons – Estate, the first Passive House settlement in the Rhineland; a completely sustainable and ecological project fully provisioned by renewable energy. Ken Levenson is a Certified Passive House Designer, and founding board member of the National Passive House Alliance and of New York Passive House. Ken regularly lectures on building science and the Passive House standard.Prior to the event, I met both speakers at the NESEA (Northeast Sustainability and Energy Association) Conference held in Boston last February. As a fellow Certified Passive House Consultant, I asked them to demonstrate how the Passive House standard can be achievable and affordable in Westchester County, rather than to simply dazzle the audience with outstanding Passive House projects,After listening to the speakers on March 8th, a fellow architect made the comment “I arrived a skeptic, and left a believer.” Another attendee of the event, Pam Washington of Washington Restoration, said she was registering for the Passive House courses, announced by Ken Levenson, held this May at the AEA (Association of Energy Affordability) in the Bronx, funded by NYSERDA. We had approximately 59 attendees, many of whom expressed enthusiasm for learning about the Passive House standard. .The theme of Passive House was chosen for the Center for Sustainable Development’s inaugural event due to the importance of energy conservation in raising the level of sustainability in buildings. The program was an opportunity for architects, building professionals, and the general public, to become familiar with the Center for Sustainable Development, a nonprofit corporation providing a forum for the exchange of innovative ideas for green building technologies. The CSD is planning future events throughout Westchester County, bringing together people with a common interest in sustainability. Christina Griffin AIA LEED AP BD+C CPHC Co-founder and President of the Center for Sustainable Development