Courtesy of Brent Ackerman

Did you know?

• April is from the Latin word aperio which means “to open [bud]”

• April 22 is Earth Day

• The birth flowers for April are the daisy and the sweat pea

• The birthstone of April is the diamond

• In the northern hemisphere, April is the first full month of spring

WORD LADDER

Change one word into another by changing one letter at a time. Hints are in brackets.

CUP

(young dog)

(dad)

It’s likely that you’ve seen solar panels on the roof of a home nearby and have wondered if it would be right for you. There are a lot of factors to consider and you should investigate thoroughly before having panels installed, but essentially, solar panels can help harness the sun’s energy and convert it into the power needed to run your home. This, in turn, generates fewer carbon emissions which is great for the environment. Ideally, solar panels are installed on a sloped, south-facing roof that has access to full sunlight and isn’t shaded by trees or other buildings. That’s not to say north, west or east facing roofs can’t utilize solar panels, just south-facing tends to be exposed to the most sunlight each day. Other options for placing solar panels are available, such as on the ground if your roof doesn’t meet the needed criteria. Alberta and Ontario have both seen surges of solar panel installations over the past few years, however it seems to be a growing trend across the country. If solar energy is something you’re thinking about, you can also look into The Canada Greener Homes Loan which can help finance your endeavor by providing an interest-free loan. SOLAR PANELS AND SOLAR ENERGY

(plant holder)

(place to sleep)

CAT

STORY

(boutique)

(fixed look)

(kick off)

SMART

SOLUTION: CUP, PUP, POP, POT, COT, CAT SOLUTION: STORY, STORE, STARE, START, SMART