Read The Everything Guide to Living Off the Grid for Free Online Page B

geothermal heating is an option?
    Some other areas you should consider as you look for your ideal piece of property are:
     
Geographical perks
Geographical warning signs
Paying for your property
Temporary housing
Building your own shelter
    Once you’ve read through these topics and developed a realistic budget, you should be able to start your search.
    Geographical Perks
    As you look for your property, you can also look for extra geographical perks that give you more for your money. Many of these perks will make life for you and your family much easier.
     
Natural gas wells: Did you know there is land all across the United States that has private natural gas wells that have been in use for decades? These wells have been used to not only supply heat and cooking fuel, but they also can be leased to natural gas companies and earn an income for the property owner.
Microclimates: A microclimate is the climate of a section different from the surrounding sections. It may be warmer or colder, wetter or drier, or more or less susceptible to frosts. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map will often show you if your potential property is located within a microclimate. But you also need to be aware that you can have even smaller patches of microclimates in different parts of your property. For example, a protected spot on the south side of your house may actually be a zone warmer than an exposed spot on the north side. Talk to your Extension agent to learn more about the microclimates in your area.

San Francisco is a city with microclimates and submicroclimates. Due to the city’s varied topography and influence from the prevailing summer marine layer or winds that come off the ocean, weather conditions can vary by as much as 9°F (5°C) from block to block.
     
Artesian aquifer: An artesian aquifer is an aquifer, or underground river, that is confined between layers of rock. Because it is confined, the water is under pressure, which causes the groundwater to flow upward through a well without the need for pumping. If the pressure is high enough, the water may even reach the ground surface, and then it’s called a flowing artesian well.
Natural boundaries: Mountains, rivers, forests, and lakes can be wonderful “fences” to secure the edges of your property. Not only do natural boundaries protect your real estate investment and ensure you will not have encroaching neighbors, they also provide a natural secure periphery to your property.
    Geographical Warning Signs
    As you decide on your property location, the general feel of the land and condition of the house and outbuildings are not the only things about which you should be concerned. You should look at any geographical threats in your area.
     
Active earthquake faults: You can find out about earthquakes and faults all over the world by accessing the U.S. Geological Survey website at earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/ .
Floodplains: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the agency in the United States that maps and delineates floodplains. Just because your piece of property hasn’t experienced a flood in the past doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. Although you might have heard about 100-year floods, flood risk isn’t just based on history anymore. Unfortunately, many of our wetlands have disappeared due to urban spread. Because those places the water used to naturally flow into are gone, the water is forced to seek other outlets further upstream. You can go to the FEMA website to order floodplain maps ( www.fema.gov ).
Landslides, mudslides, avalanches, and alluvial fans: Hillsides, hilltops, and basins are very popular places for building homes; unfortunately there are some geographical hazards to watch for in these areas. Landslides are caused by several factors: water saturation, slope degeneration due to construction or erosion, soil deterioration due to freezing, thawing or the loss of cover vegetation, trembling from earthquakes and aftershocks, and volcanic