Panasonic behind all green sustainable smart city Fujisawa

"The goals of the Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town is to create a sustainable town where making the most of the blessings of nature and promoting local production for local consumption. Moreover, we aim to realize a safe, peaceful life for residents by linking and using electricity and information networks. We need to create practical measures to achieve these goals," reads the front page of Panasonic's low-down on their groundbreaking support of Fujisawa - a city designed to be fully supportive of the environment.

Labeled as "solution works", this city is being marketed as a Sustainable Smart Town (SST), with its opening passing in November 2014.

Supporting the core facility named SST SQUARE, Panasonic have given considerable input into ensuring this center serves as the central communication base for the town and see's it play a "pivotal role in promoting the town's growth through its functions of managing the town, welcoming guests and fostering community". The square houses Fujisawa's SST Management Company and its partners - these bodies manage the town essentials such as energy, security, mobility, healthcare and community.

So far this sounds like some sort of futuristic utopia land as you'd expect to see in a movie - This assumption isn't all-too-far from the truth. There are various complex systems in place, ranging from smart energy management for all homes to electric vehicles to assist mobility and non-vehicular green options, it's well worth a look into their public website.

This has been somewhat of a trial city, testing the waters to see if a fully sustainable environment can be achieved where users energy consumption, travel, security healthcare and more are all governed by one body - ensuring maximum efficiency.

Are you picking up one major issue here so far? Security. As according to their website, this town offers tight security in the form of surveillance cameras, LED street lights with sensors and "security concierges". I don't know about you, but flashbacks to the first mission of Half-Life 2 are happening right about now.

Love it or hate it, it certainly is an interesting concept. What are your thoughts on the matter? Green is good, but are they taking it a little too far with their "Big Brother" style surveillance and complete control?