I am currently on a kick to see how little one can survive with and have found that it indeed can be very little. One energy hog is refrigeration. You can run basic lights using solar, etc but you cannot easily keep the refrigeration going without large energy inputs. Fossil fuels will be scarce.
Here is something I think will be important. If you have a couple of goats for milk (cheese and meat), you will have to have a way to store it in the heat of the summer. Digging a pit in the earth would help greatly, but that will get it down to 55 degrees, at best. If you would like to get stuff even cooler, you will need a zeer pot. If the average ambient (day and night temps) is 70 degrees, this arrangement could get you down to the 40 degree range. I like the large terra cotta (unglazed pot) with the aluminum pot inside for better heat transfer and to keep the moisture out. If all you have is unglazed pottery, then that is fine.
Right now is the time to purchase the pots while they are in stock. Most places will not carry them late in the summer or winter. Right now, you can purchase the larger pots (18" diameter) at Lowes for around $35. A 5 gallon thin wall aluminum or SS pot can be purchased for $10-20. Sand is cheap and comes in sacks from the local Home Depot.
Here is a great resource link:
http://4dtraveler.net/2012/05/11/the-zeer-pot-emergency-refrigerator/
Enjoy.
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