New Jersey resident Erik Helverson started his education at Montclair State University in 2018. Before beginning his freshman year, Erik Helverson worked as a sales representative for the green energy firm Momentum Solar, which specializes in residential solar energy systems.
As solar power equipment becomes cheaper, more homeowners now have the incentive to install the renewable energy option in their homes. Residential solar power systems incorporate at least three components: Panels: Solar panels contain layers of negatively and positively charged materials, or photovoltaic cells, that generate electricity from sunlight. These panels have a lifespan of approximately two to three decades. Homeowners should select the size and number of solar panels they need based on their energy demands, the amount of roof space their structure has, and the average hours of sun in their location. Batteries: Also known as solar storage, batteries enable solar systems to capture excess energy for later use. While this is useful for periods where the solar grid is not able to meet the home’s energy consumption needs, for some homeowners it may make more sense to sell excess power back to the energy grid rather than to store it. Inverters: Solar panels generate DC energy, which is not used by most residential electrical systems. Inverters transform the raw energy into the 240 AC voltage that home appliances are designed to run on. There are several types of inverters that vary on price point and efficiency, such as microinverters, which attach to individual panels, and string inverters which connect to a circuit where all the panels are wired together.
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Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, resident Erik Helverson finished his high school education at Ridge High School. He attended Gettysburg College from 2014 to 2017, and went to Temple University in Japan in the summer of 2017. He then enrolled at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey, for his bachelor’s degree. Erik Helverson studied in Graz in the fall of 2019, as a recipient of the Anita Magistro Udell Scholarship for Language Majors from Montclair State University. He is currently in his senior year in the German program at Montclair State University.
At Montclair State University, the German major program offers between 36 and 42 credits, while the German minor program offers between 18 and 24 credits. The courses provide instruction in linguistic skills, literary analysis, and cultural understanding of German-speaking countries. Additionally, all levels of the school’s German program include German civilization and literature classes. In addition to academic offerings, Montclair State University’s German program offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities. The German Club provides members with the opportunity to take part in cultural events and outings. It has activities that continue throughout the year, such as the German Stammtisch every Wednesday, and the Spring 2016 German Film Series every night at 7:00 p.m. Moreover, Montclair State University has a standing exchange student program with the city of Graz in Austria. Through this program, deserving German language students have the opportunity to study in Graz for a year. A member of the Delta Phi Alpha German honor society, Erik Helverson is an undergraduate at Montclair State University in New Jersey. When he isn't studying, Erik Helverson enjoys athletic pursuits such as playing tennis and participating in 5K runs.
While training should begin weeks or months in advance of a 5K run, there are several things one can do in the week leading up to the race to be adequately prepared. Sleep is crucial to athletic performance and, in that regard, runners should aim to get a quality night's sleep in the two nights prior to the race. Runners should also decrease their mileage when running during race week. In addition, all other physical activity should be avoided on the day of the race. Diet is also integral to performance. Whereas those running marathons should consume high amounts of carbohydrates in the days leading up to a race, that isn't necessary for individuals participating in shorter races such as 5Ks. Carb-loading before a 5K, then, could have the adverse impact of making runners feel bloated or nauseous. Instead, follow a typical healthy diet in the days before the race and consume a light 200-300 calorie meal a couple of hours before it starts. Oatmeal with dried fruit and a bagel with peanut butter are preferred options. |
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