96 N. KONO ET AL.
along with the well-known streetcar, dispersed, linear, and smart-growth
city frameworks (Muller 2004 ).
This chapter describes SC traits in four sectors: energy management,
waste management, water management, and transportation. Energy man-
agement includes the electricity smart grid with distributed power sources,
hydrogen energy, and renewable energy (including solar, wind, micro-
hydro, geothermal, biomass). Waste management includes 3R and mate-
rial cycle economies. Transportation includes Intelligent Transport Systems
(ITSs), EVs, hybrid cars, non-motorized transport (NMT), and car sharing
systems. Finally, water management accounts for renewable energy sources
for water facilities and looping water uses. The authors compare these
trends with Indian slum conditions and discuss potential applications to
India. The chapter also examines such policies within these sectors in terms
of regulations, standards, planning and administrative directions, economic
measures, voluntary actions, and environmental ethics.
The analysis of SCs in Japan indicates that such cities have experienced
steady urban development over recent decades. The study identifi es the
potential for application of the SC notion in developing country cities,
including informal settlements. An emphasis on informal settlements may
prove pivotal to leapfrogging processes towards SC development.
6.1 INTRODUCTION
SC development (i.e., the smartization of cities) is considered the most
important keyword within the urban development fi eld. The concept of
SC is sometimes thought of as a panacea for pressing global issues and
ineffi ciencies affecting cities (e.g., growing energy consumption, scarce
natural resources, waste management issues, and rapid urbanization).
Such concepts have been discussed in developed countries for several years
within the context of the green economy. Rapidly industrializing cities in
developing countries are also promoting the concept.
Japan, home to many related technology patents in existence, has pro-
moted innovation in environmental technologies such as solar batteries,
storage cells, LEDs, and electric/hybrid/hydrogen vehicles. Patents for
solar batteries and EV-operated cars, both of which are key SC technolo-
gies, occupy the highest position (Patent Agency of Japan 2009 , 2014).
In addition, electric devices and appliances in Japan are among the most
energy-effi cient devices in the world as a result of the Energy Effi ciency
Act enacted in 1947. Among these, appliances that are designated energy
consumption effi ciency standards (the Top Runner Standard) account for