BOOST YOUR HOME’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY
WITH THESE 3 PRODUCTS
With the development of accessible, affordable technologies and home products, improving the energy efficiency of your home is easier than ever. On top of that, many of these products give you more options for home automation so you can save money and stay comfortable without even thinking about it. Here are three investments that will boost your energy efficiency right now. A Smart Thermostat The great thing about smart thermostats is that they offer more programmable options than traditional thermostats. For example, you can buy a thermostat that connects to your home’s Wi-Fi and is controlled by an accompanying smartphone app, no matter where you are. Another awesome feature is that smart thermostats will turn on and off based on your schedule and temperature preferences. In the long run, this feature can save you money and energy.
the temperature in your home. For existing homes, spray foam insulation is the best option, as it is the easiest to install and can still save energy. It’s also ideal for insulating attics, basements, and hard- to-reach spots. For new homes or more involved renovations, insulating concrete forms are the most energy-efficient option. A Smart Water Heater Generally, water heaters are not the most energy efficient — especially if you’re in a household where hot water is in constant demand. But with a smart water heater, you can change that. Much like the previously mentioned thermostat, you can control a smart water heater remotely or set it to heat water according to a specific schedule. This way, the heating elements aren’t running all day, every day. They come in tank and tankless varieties, though tankless is the way to go to maximize energy efficiency without taking up much space.
Next-Generation Insulation While you might be familiar with fiberglass insulation, an industry standard, there are much better options that help you maintain
DON’T BE AFRAID TO FILE
LAW PROTECTS YOU FROM WORKERS’ COMPENSATION RETALIATION
The State of Florida requires employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. The Bureau of Compliance has set forth coverage requirements making workers’ compensation insurance a necessity when specific types of employers meet certain employee number thresholds, and for a good reason: People can get hurt at work! So, if you are legally classified as an “employee” (as opposed to something like an “independent contractor”), you should be covered in the event of a workplace injury. If you are technically a contractor, or something else is going on, you may instead have to file a personal injury claim, which is another area our firm is deeply familiar with. Unlike injury law, workers’ compensation provides no-fault benefits, which means the system pays out claims regardless of who is found to be at
fault for the accident. That may encourage you to file when you might otherwise not.
You might be thinking, “Great — but what if my employer fires me or retaliates anyway?” Well, there’s really only one situation where that might be allowed, and that’s if your injury has impacted your ability to do your job in the long run. It’s actually pretty hard for an employer to prove, though, so most times retaliation will be illegal, and you’ll need the services of a good personal injury attorney to help you cut through the veils they may draw over their actions. Last but not least, keep in mind that the above information is just a basic overview of the laws around workers’ compensation. Each case is unique in its own way, and you are probably going to have a lot of questions and concerns. The Whisler Law Firm is here to answer those questions and to help you secure a just result.
If you’re like most, you may be scared to file a workers’ compensation claim. Perhaps you think you’ll be fired or have your hours cut. Your employer may even have told you, “We’ll take care of it ourselves” to keep you from filing. But you should never be afraid to do the right thing under the law — and the law protects you if you have to file.
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