Driving is going to have to become a novelty if we're going to avoid the worst of the climate crisis. Plus, Peak Oil is going to force us into drastically reducing car use whether we like it or not.

The best thing to do is move towards car-free living. That means moving to a more central location and/or biking, walking and busing as your primary means of transportation.

Still, there are still justifiable reasons for owning a car. Your livelihood is a big one - I can't imagine how a realtor or roofer could run a successful business without driving most days.

For those situations, there's www.fueleconomy.gov. It's a website that lists the fuel economy of most every car ever manufactured. Built and maintained by the US government, this website allows you to find the most fuel-efficient car available in any given class.

The Compare Side-by-Side section is especially useful for putting one car against another. There you can learn that, if you really must own a minivan, the Toyoto Sienna beats the Honda Odyssey by 1.3 litres per 100 Km. That's a lot of gas over the course of the vehicle.

Before you buy a vehicle do your research. Fuel efficiency will save you money and reduce your carbon footprint.

And in case you're wondering, the Hummer pictured above burns about 24 litres per 100 Km driven versus the Smart Car's 7 litres per 100 Km.