The problem with Peak Oil is that we won't know we've hit it until it's past. Looking at the current forecasts for crude oil, we may have hit that point about two or three months ago. For the uninitiated, Peak Oil refers to the point in which we (humans) will have extracted half of all the available crude oil in the world. At some point, there will a peak in production, as demands rise, and then a plateau and falloff as wells run dry and new sources are not discovered, or not shown to be as productive as the fields running dry. Add to this peak the "yogurt scenario": scooping out the first half of a yogurt container is easy, but scraping the bottom to dig out the last half requires much more effort. Russia's supplies have already hit a plateau. Oil is going to be much harder to extract once we deplete the high-producing sites.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the most-widely recognized independent source of energy data and forecasts, has already said that by 2015, the world will see a shortfall of over 12.5 million barrels of oil per day unless demand plummets. The continuing war in Iraq and sanctions on Iran (not to mention questioning the patriotism of anyone who suggests sitting down at the negotiating table with the Iranians) are confounding efforts to develop those countries' resources. Future worries and rampant speculation have driven up the price of crude oil to over $135 per barrel, and the outlook is suggesting it may reach $200 before the end of the year.  Recent price jumps in the U.S. are considered to be only the harbingers of much larger increases, with gas prices expected to reach $5 and possibly even $6 or $7 per gallon in the next six months.

The effect of soaring oil prices is already causing a cascade effect on the prices of plastics, petrochemicals (including fertilizer), and food. As we discussed previously, food is already a concern, as crops are failing due to weather and natural disasters, and many corn crops are being devoted to ethanol fuel production. The food math is simple: the food required to fill an SUV's tank once would feed a person for a year. Pinning our fuel hopes on ethanol will only lead to faster catastrophe.

Coal, nuclear power and natural gas make up the majority of the sources for electrical power in the U.S. but each has its problems. Much of the nation's coal supply is sulfurous, and burning it without expensive scrubbers leads to the conditions that produce acid rain. Nuclear power has come a long way since the days of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl (events that probably predate the births of many of our readers) but even the best-maintained facility leads to radioactive waste which must be contained safely for centuries. Non-nuclear nations may be jumping at the chance to construct reactors of their own, but nuclear power is tightly controlled by nations who already have it. Natural gas, like coal and oil, is a limited resource.

The lights will stay on, at least for now. Don't plan long road trips, though.

We at Firefox News have looked at the renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energy, and while we find them worthy of use on a wider scale, we propose our own view of renewable energy that will help keep industry running, cars on the road, and the world going on: zombies.

A zombie on a treadmill, provided with a small amount of brains in a jar kept just out of reach, can provide enough energy for a single-family home. Should that family swap their SUV for an electric car or equip their vehicle with a do-it-yourself hybrid kit all their energy needs could be provided by just one member of the undead.

Alas, groups for undead rights are springing up everywhere these days, claiming it is "exploitative" to use zombies for power generation. Worse, some religious and secular humanist groups are clamoring for more respect to be paid to their dead. Just because Grandma got bitten is no reason to chain her effectively forever to a treadmill just to recharge your iPod, or at least so the argument goes. Honestly, though, burying her would just be feeding the worms, while using her as an energy source helps her give back even after she's gone.

Still, moral quandaries aside, there is something to be said for preserving the undead for where they're needed most. (Not preservation in the classic sense, of course, though a little moisturizer will go a long way in keeping your zombies fresh!) So what can a family do to reduce their reliance on zombie energy?

First, while that hybrid or electric car may already be saving you at the pump, a bicycle will save you gas, electric and gym membership fees, all in one easy purchase. Walking, the really old-fashioned way to get places, will do the same, and your waistline will thank you. Public transportation isn't always an option, but in areas where buses and trains will take you where you want to go, you'll almost certainly save money over driving there, and the public transport systems are most efficient when they're moving many people as opposed to just a few. If you can't take the train, try carpooling with a friend.

Next, check out your housing situation. The housing market is crashing around our ears, which means homes that may have previously been out of your price range will be dropping right back into view. Would now be a good time to move closer to work or school? The change between an hour commute and a fifteen minute one will make a big difference in your fuel consumption. Townhouses, apartments and condos require less energy per unit to heat in comparison to a single-family home because of the built-in insulation.

At home, you already know how to conserve zombie power. Turn off lights when you're not using them. (The Mythbusters proved they don't take more electricity to turn on and off when you leave the room. So don't fall for that one.) Switch your bulbs to CFLs, and be sure to recycle them so you don't release mercury into the environment. Invest in a programmable thermostat and let your zombie rest when you're not home. A rested zombie is a happy zombie. Also, your dog does not need the TV on when you're not in the room. Really. Even turned off, your appliances can draw up to 75% of their operational power, so if you're out of town, go easy on your zombie and unplug.

If you've got a lawn, try a hand-push mower instead of gas or electric. It cuts your grass just as well and again, you won't have to pay Gold's Gym so often. Check out box fans and let your air conditioner have the summer off, or even install a fan directly to your zombie's treadmill. Solar panels, if they work for your house (and aren't, say, banned by certain fascist housing associations in the Chicago 'burbs I could name) are a great way to supplement your zombie power. Solar lights are an attractive addition to your landscaping and provide security lighting at night without needing to be plugged in at all.

When it comes to the recycling bin, recycle smart. Many more zombies are needed to recycle plastics properly, while aluminum is almost infinitely recyclable. Glass is also a very low-zombie-impact recyclable. Focus your purchases on packaging you can recycle easily or reuse elsewhere. And when you bike over to the grocery store, use a reusable bag for your purchases instead of getting new plastic bags.

It's the little things that make one zombie last a long time. The last thing you want is to be home on a holiday weekend with a burnt-out zombie. You'd have to nip over to the neighbors and ask them to let their zombie bite your roommate, and really, then who's going to pick up the other half of the rent?