ABSTRACT
Smart cities are a general concept that is used to information and communication technology (ICT)-related applications in urban design, planning and management. Discourses of smart cities have influenced both the generation of Urban living labs (ULL) as a tool for urban governance and the design of ULL. This chapter aims to understand the extent to which smart city visions are fit to deliver both environmental sustainability and social justice in contemporary cities, particularly in relation to urban energy systems. Energy practices are largely shaped by the architecture of the city, and the pressure over space. Space has the highest premium in Hong Kong, and while growing high has resolved problems of space, it has also resulted in complex demands for energy, particularly for air conditioning. While there is an interest in developing "smart city" solutions, other means to achieve sustainability through energy policies remain limited to traditional approaches.
