FORT ATKINSON, Wis. -- In Fort Atkinson, a relatively small city of 12,000 people, citizens have long realized that a little change can go a long way.

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That's why the entire community is embracing a challenge to reduce its carbon footprint, WISC-TV reported.

The idea started when the owner of an eclectic, downtown Fort Atkinson cafe came up with a plan based on a play on words.

"Resources are finite and if you don't look in the long run, there won't be a long run," said Kitty Welch, owner of Cafe Carpe.

The so-called Fort Atkinson Diet isn't about losing weight, but it's about cutting carb -- as in carbon emissions. Playing off the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet, the low-carbon Fort Atkinson diet led to the city passing a resolution that recognizes the dangers of global warming and promoting ways to get environmentally fit.

"I'd heard about whole cities going on regular diets and low carbon diets so we put the two ideas together and then the name just kind of worked," said Welch.

Welch was key to the resolution's passage.

"It really does make a difference when there are citizens, or a group of citizens that are engaged and willing to work with the government," she said.

Citizens have given the idea the green light. The secret to the diet's approach isn't to tell businesses what they're doing that's wrong, but to tell them what they're doing that's right and build on it from there, WISC-TV reported.

Marketing specialist Cynthia Holt was Welch's partner with the project. She said that educating people about global warming and not shoving it down their throats was critical.

"It was important for us to educate people about global issues, however, we want to talk about solutions, not just making people feel guilty because they're driving," she said.

Holt's expertise has been vital to providing outreach to area businesses, to get them on board with the program. One example Is how a major city employer Verlo Mattress helped pitched in for new LED stoplights.

Welch said that it's about saving the Earth now, saving money in the long run.

"Once you decide to do these things, there's a good reason to do them, just even for yourself not for the planet, there's a really good reason to do them for the planet," Welch said.

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To learn more about the Fort Atkinson Diet, visit here
Other communities or organizations taking a pledge to help the environment include Madison and Bon Appetit Management Co.
To calculate your carbon footprint, read tips to becoming carbon neutral and take action, visit this Web site