Beyond that, it was fascinating to see seeing what Detroit automakers are doing to reduce their carbon footprints, like using green roofs that insulate their buildings, porous pavement to filter rain water and even solar panels to help power their facilities.

FORBES: An Eye-Opening Trip To The Motor City

The new building will reuse rain water to flush the toilets and a solar electric generating system will be installed on the roof.

BBC: Artist impression of the new building

Simple--and aesthetically pleasing--ideas include transforming Mason jars into solar-powered light jars, converting pallets into lawn furniture and reusing detergent containers as rain catchers.

FORBES: Julia Cosgrove

Solar panels that capture every photon across the light spectrum, even subpar photons like the kind that rain down on cloudy Auld Reekie.

FORBES: Intelligent Design Comes To Inorganic Matter