San Francisco's multitudinous tech start-ups are not only making their mark in economic terms, they're redefining the workspace. 

London’s Mayfair district, populated by yacht brokers and art dealers, is a natural home for retailers trading on exclusivity.

More than 600 miles separate Maysville, Kentucky, from its New York City namesake, a trendy watering hole west of Madison Square Park.

Nestled in a 19th-century brick warehouse that once served as a power station for San Francisco’s formerly industrial South of Market district, the Michelin-starred Saison feels more like a communal eatery than a place where cultish foodies drop $400 on an 18-to-20-course dinner.

Lighting accounted for 20 percent of the primary energy use in commercial buildings in 2010—more than either heating or cooling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.