Photo by Trey Ratcliff

Economy vs. environment: an everlasting debate with valid arguments on both sides. Luckily, there are some cases in which saving money goes hand in hand with saving the environment. Living green is one of them — at least most of the time. But how about green driving?

Thinking green when deciding which car to buy is one of the few completely foolproof ways to save money. The more kilometers your vehicle will get out of each litre of gas or diesel, the less you'll spend on fuel throughout the year — and you can save a lot.

But it's not only about saving your money at the pumps, it's also about protecting the environment. Fuel-efficient vehicles give off fewer emissions and decrease our country's dependence on oil. Reasons for going for a green car seem quite obvious, however, one important question still remains: how to choose the right one?

If you need a little help, simply check out this useful tool on the website of Natural Resources Canada. Its database provides an excellent source for fuel consumption ratings of various makes and models of vehicles for a specific model year and it can help you select the most fuel-efficient vehicle for your own daily needs.

If you have already chosen your favourite green car for 2011, you can vote for it here: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/heart-of-green-awards/best-green-cars-2011

The 2011 nominees are Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, Lexus CT200h, Fiat 500, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Honda CR-Z Hybrid. Do you agree with the nominations, or would you rather vote for another car? Feel free to share your opinions with us!