62 The energy transition is at the heart of the smart city paradox. Initially considered a paragon of virtue, the smart city and champion of energy conservation can also prove to be extremely energy-intensive and sometimes lose sight of its human dimensions. Our habits have caught up with this technological invisibility all around the world. What could be more normal than having France-wide urban transport or road traffic information on your cell phone? In this respect, in searching for better environmental performance, the smart city has been confronted with urban realities in terms of sense of space and governance. This urban development concept cannot replace the need to insulate buildings, transport materials or dig trenches to install networks. This co-production of the city is based on intelligent cohabitation between traditional and innovative technologies, not forgetting humans, the main resource. SENSORS AND ALGORITHMS Digital technology’s contribution is indisputable for a better grasp of energy questions, for example, in building design and urban planning and the use of infrastructure. As it has flourished, the smart city has harnessed sensors for its running and algorithms for its use. On the one hand, connected objects (IoT), of which there were estimated to be 12.3 billion in 2021, are used for the optimized management of energy, fluids, and infrastructure. These performance levers provide a solution to increasing productivity demands; so much so that they will represent almost US$1,077 billion in expenses in this sector by 2024. On the other hand, the strong growth in digital technologies (7% on average over the past decade) has been underpinned by the algorithmic power of information and communication technologies (ICT). They have enabled more efficient use and an adaptability of the city that has now become standard in transport and services, with notable repercussions on energy control. THE LIMITS OF THE SYSTEM All the same, the smart city has its limits at the bounds of its physical and financial capacities and governance. Not all cities are the same and SMART CITY cornerstone of the energy transition? SPoTLIGHT
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