The article reveals issues related to the relevance of the use of energy efficient technologies and architectural and planning methods of dealing with adverse climatic conditions in the modern world. The concept of extremality is revealed in architecture and a classification of extreme conditions is presented. The analysis of the state policy in the field of efficient use of energy resources was carried out and the vector of development of energy saving programs for Russia was determined. The purpose of the work was based on the analysis of modern foreign design and construction experience to identify the advantages and disadvantages of facilities using energy efficient technologies and architectural planning methods to combat adverse climatic conditions, and determine the prospects of their use in the domestic construction practice. The study of the influence of extreme climatic conditions on the architectural and planning solutions of buildings was carried out and the peculiarities of their design, primarily related to the issues of improving energy efficiency, were revealed. It was concluded that the objects under study can be considered as one of the directions for the development of sustainable architecture.