Robot trees

So, I'm reading this article on the New York Times web site about genetically engineered trees being created to do environmental cleanup, and I start thinking: 'Hey, we were supposed to have robots doing this kind of thing in the 21st century!'
Do you realize that the Sci-Fi future of wanton environmental damage is slowly slipping away? Instead of widespread pollution and acid rain a la 'Blade Runner' or 'The Fifth Element', we'll have Green Buildings that are designed to minimize energy and water consumption among other things. Soon, we'll combine Green Buildings with genetically engineered plants and trees to provide photosynthetic energy sources. We'll all be living and working in giant treehouses like the Ewoks or the Swiss Family Robinson. Hey, maybe that's not too bad. As long as we get to swing from tree to tree with big vines.