White Storks (Ciconia ciconia L.) may cause severe outages in electric networks leading to poor power quality service. Furthermore, bird fatalities often occur as consequence of electrocution. Therefore, equipment damages, economical losses of industry and electric corporations and bird deaths persuaded the main electric distribution operator and the regulator to implement management programs of storks' activities in the vicinity of electric distribution substructure to minimize stork fatalities and energy outages. Stork management in electric distribution networks is implemented by using sounds, strobes, vibration and turbine devices. These systems are activated upon storks approaching the putative nesting sites. The storks are detected by ultrasonic sensor probes. Sound equipment was modified as specifically required to allow remote control and monitoring via Internet connection. Particularly effective were strong harassment sounds, e. g. guns, alarms, sirens, and dynamic powerful musical passages. Natural distress calls of herons and egrets were also effective. Ultrasonic frequencies, predator sounds (falcons, hawks) and general bird distress calls (gulls, pigeons, starlings) were of limited effects. To keep birds from adapting to routine patterns, the devices were activated only upon approaching detected by ultrasonic probes, and a random combination of 8 sound pieces played for 10 min. Novel vibration platforms proved effective in preventing nesting and roosting, but relatively difficult to install with the current prototype design. Specially designed powered turbines powered by a high torque motor effectively prevented storks from nesting, in spite of several attempts.
Energy-efficiency has been gaining more and more importance in the past few years, and today it is considered essential, in order to optimize the use of energy resources and to assure environmental and economic sustainability. Regarding street lighting, there are several solutions for achieving energy efficiency, raising opportunities for improvement and innovation, and allowing a rationalization in consumption. Although these benefits are clear and significant, a specific challenge arises, namely the acceptance of these solutions by citizens, as many of them affect their perceptions and feelings regarding their own security and their quality of life in the public spaces of cities. To better understand the citizens' attitudes towards public street lighting, a study was conducted in 2014, with the following objectives: 1) understand the assessments about streetlight; 2) measure citizen knowledge about energy efficiency; 3) develop hypothesis on how can streetlight consumption become more efficient without interfering in the citizens security. Over 2000 interviews were conducted, covering three stages of assessment: attitudes, expectations and scenarios receptivity (always in the citizen perspective). From this study interesting conclusions can be taken, which will support the implementation of energy efficiency measures in public lighting. The high importance citizens attribute to street lighting is reinforced, particularly regarding their sense of security and day-today habits. We conclude that citizens are willing to accept changes in street lighting, aiming at achieving gains in energy efficiency, mainly through the elimination of what they consider to be a waste in consumption.
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