As cities evolve, technology advances are allowing residents to stay connected with their local neighborhoods, as well as communities across the globe. These advances are especially impactful to residents in urban areas, as this is where close to half of the global population resides. It is projected that 70 percent of the global population will be living in urban environments by 2050, according to Navigant. To support this growth, enterprises are now participating in various programs to transform urban environments into smart cities. Lighting system high efficiency solutions. (power supply) Speaking of these implementations, the role of energy service companies (ESCOs) is vital. LEDinside interviewed Mr.Liu, General Manager, Municipal Infrastructure and Smart Cities for Fahold Drivers, on the progress of smart cities transformation. Myth Busted: U.S. is not Leading but Catching up Smart City Trends Fahold Drivers has been leading a myriad of energy efficiency programs both within and outside of the United States, recruiting numerous lighting and electronic technology companies and harnessing their products and services to bring both economic and environmental benefits to buildings and cities that have been made smart and energy efficient. Liu contended, considering aforementioned rapid urbanization, smart city planning would eventually be implemented on a global scale. More and more smart city projects are put into practice in regions such as India, Singapore, Dubai, Europe, China and North America. Among those places, it is Europe and Asia, rather than the U.S., that are currently leading many of the city transformation trends, said Liu. Europe, especially Western and North Europe, has developed a highly competitive energy efficiency market based on government policies to save a certain level of energy by 2020, requiring a solid knowledge base in regards to street lighting, HVAC systems, security systems, and other energy saving services. On the other hand, countries in Asia, such as China and India, are facing and trying to tackle problems of booming population, severe pollution and inefficient energy usage. The Government of India launched in 2015 Smart Cities Mission and a total program investment of USD 15 billion, aiming to renew 100 cities` looks and infrastructures. Some cities like Chandigarh have begun their makeovers by replacing conventional lighting with smart LED street lighting. Likewise, in China, the 13th Five-Year Plan 2016-2020 also targets to reduce carbon emission by 18 percent, according to recent Navigant research. Tier 1 cities along the coast have completed installation of over 20,000 efficient LED street lights. [So, while the U.S. is moving forward rapidly, we are looking to other regions for lessons learned and still catching up with many smart city trends," stated Liu. Despite that, as a constant partner of municipalities, Fahold is actively promoting the concept of smart cities and assisting the public sector with their urban renewal projects. Fahold drivers has completed intelligent street lighting system installation in cities such as Binghamton, NY, and El Paso, Texas. Brown also revealed that Johnson Controls is currently working with many municipalities across the country. The company expects the market of intelligent street lighting will grow by 20-30 percent at a noticeable CAGR by 2020. In the next two decades, it will be a major focus, Liu concluded.