One of the most impressive factories in the world, for both its history and sheer size, is Ford Motor Co.’s River Rouge plant in Dearborn. At one time home to 100,000 workers, the Rouge was, and yes still is, a powerful symbol of the automotive industry’s power and the impact Detroit had on our way of life.

Today we had the opportunity to tour the River Rouge Factory and watch Ford F10’s assembled. For two 10-hour shifts on weekdays and one shift on weekends, autoworkers assemble the engines, cabs and beds of one of Ford’s top selling vehicles.

Thanks in part to Bill Ford, Henry Ford’s great-grandson and company’s current Executive Chairman, the Rouge has become more environmentally sustainable and is evolving with the 21st century. A massive green roof (pictured) helps retain rainwater, porous pavement across the complex also contributes to rainwater harvesting, and solar panels in front of the factory tour’s entrance heats water. Solar panels are dotted across the Rouge’s rooftops and trees supporting nature are sprouting across the factories’ grounds.

Just one quibble: we could not film or photograph the assembly of those Ford trucks, which seems odd considering Henry Ford’s openness in sharing the benefits of the modern assembly line. To be able to share the experience would have made this morning even richer and showcase the impressive work this more progressive company is currently achieving.

River Rouge also includes solar panels and porous pavement

About The Author

Leon Kaye

Leon Kaye is the founder and editor of GreenGoPost.com and its advisory division, GGP Media. Contact him to discuss how he can work with your organization or event. His focus is making the business case for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He writes for San Francisco-based Triple Pundit, Inhabitat and now The Guardian, for which he writes about corporate responsibility, water, and green building. He has also written for AIA's Architect Magazine. Leon works out of Fresno and Silicon Valley, California, and when he has free time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, weightlifting, and planning his next trip to one of the 60 countries he has visited. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Cal State-Fresno.