Battling energy waste in hot, rich cities

Why is there so much energy wasted in big, rich, hot cities like Hong Kong?  In part, it’s because real estate is so expensive that energy costs seem trivial, a tiny fraction of the building’s value.  The main alternatives are oil, coal, nuclear, and renewables like solar.  Little attention is paid to the “fifth fuel,” consuming less energy.  This is surprising because energy efficiency and reduced consumption are relatively easy to achieve.  A huge building boom is underway in developing country cities, so there’s plenty of opportunity to cut energy waste before blueprints become buildings.  However, energy conservation and efficiency do have limits, so it’s important to seek new energy sources too.  GR