Okay, here is the full text of the Privacy Policy with the updates we discussed integrated into Sections 9.2, 9.3, and 10.3, and the “Last Updated” date changed to today.

Privacy Policy for www.clearestsolar.com

Effective Date: April 7, 2025 Last Updated: April 25, 2025

1. Introduction Welcome to www.clearestsolar.com hereinafter referred to as “the Website”. Clearest Solar is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data in a transparent and secure manner. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, safeguard, and otherwise process your information when you visit our Website.  

By accessing or using our Website, you signify your understanding of the terms set out in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Website.  

2. Data Controller The data controller responsible for your personal data is: Clearest Solar Email: infoclearestsolar@gmail.com

3. Information We Collect We may collect the following types of information when you use our Website:

  • 3.1 Personal Data:
    • Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number if you provide it voluntarily through contact forms, newsletter sign-ups, or other interactions.
    • Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device information, unique device identifiers, and information collected via cookies and similar technologies (see Section 10 for details).
    • Usage Data: Information about how you navigate and interact with our Website, such as pages visited, time spent on pages, referral sources, links clicked, and search queries.
  • 3.2 Sensitive Personal Information: We generally do not intend to collect sensitive personal information (such as race, religion, health data, precise geolocation, etc.). If we ever need to collect such information, we will do so only where necessary and in accordance with applicable laws, potentially requiring your explicit consent depending on your jurisdiction (e.g., under GDPR, VCDPA, CPA, CTDPA).
  • 3.3 Non-Personal Data: Aggregated, anonymized, or statistical data that does not identify you personally (e.g., total number of visitors to a page).

4. How We Use Your Information We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

  • To operate, maintain, and improve our Website and its content.
  • To respond to your comments, inquiries, and requests for information.
  • To send you informational content, newsletters, marketing communications, or updates if you have opted-in to receive them.
  • To analyze Website traffic and usage patterns using tools like analytics cookies, helping us understand user needs and improve user experience.
  • To personalize your experience on the Website (e.g., remembering preferences via cookies).
  • To facilitate affiliate marketing tracking, if applicable.
  • To prevent fraudulent activity and enhance the security of our Website.
  • To comply with applicable legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

5. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR and other laws) We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds, depending on the context and your jurisdiction:

  • Consent: Where you have given us explicit consent to process your personal data for a specific purpose (e.g., subscribing to a newsletter, consenting to non-essential cookies via our consent management tool). You can withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party), such as improving our Website, ensuring security, analyzing usage, or responding to inquiries, provided these interests are not overridden by your data protection rights.  
  • Legal Obligations: Where processing is necessary for us to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.
  • Notice and Opt-Out (primarily US State Laws): For certain processing activities impacting residents of specific US states, processing may rely on providing clear notice and offering users the ability to opt-out (e.g., opting out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information, or processing for targeted advertising).

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure We value your privacy and do not “sell” your personal data in the traditional sense of exchanging it for money. However, under some privacy laws (like the CCPA/CPRA), the use of certain analytics, advertising, or affiliate cookies might be considered a “sale” or “sharing.” We may disclose or provide access to your information in the following circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We engage trusted third-party companies and individuals to perform services on our behalf (e.g., website hosting, email delivery, data analysis, technical support, consent management). These providers have access to your personal data only to perform these tasks and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose.  
  • Analytics and Marketing Partners: We may use third-party analytics tools (like Google Analytics) and potentially advertising or affiliate partners that use cookies and similar technologies. This usage might constitute “sharing” under laws like CPRA. We provide you with choices regarding these cookies via our consent management tool and relevant opt-out links (see Section 10).
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).  
  • Protection of Rights: We may disclose information where we believe it is necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding potential violations of our policies, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person, illegal activities, or as evidence in litigation.  

7. International Data Transfers Our Website servers may be located in various countries. If you are accessing the Website from outside these locations (e.g., from the European Economic Area – EEA), please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries that may not have data protection laws as comprehensive as those in your country.  

When we transfer your personal data outside the EEA, we will take appropriate steps to ensure your data receives an adequate level of protection, such as using Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission or relying on other valid transfer mechanisms under GDPR.  

8. Data Retention We will retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as for tax, accounting, or other legal requirements). We will delete or anonymize your information when it is no longer needed.  

9. Your Privacy Rights Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data. We are committed to facilitating these rights.

  • 9.1 Your Rights Under GDPR (For EEA/UK Residents):
    • Right of Access: Request access to the personal data we hold about you.  
    • Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.  
    • Right to Erasure (‘Right to be Forgotten’): Request deletion of your data under certain conditions.
    • Right to Restriction of Processing: Request that we limit how we process your data under certain conditions.
    • Right to Object to Processing: Object to our processing of your data when based on legitimate interests.
    • Right to Data Portability: Request your data be transferred to you or another controller in a structured, commonly used format.
    • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time if processing is based on consent, without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.
    • Right to Lodge a Complaint: Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
  • 9.2 Your Rights Under US State Privacy Laws (California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, etc.): Residents of certain US states have specific rights regarding their personal information. These may include (varying slightly by state):
    • Right to Know/Access: Know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, sell, or share about you.
    • Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to exceptions).
    • Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
    • Right to Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing/Targeted Advertising: Residents of certain US states (including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and Virginia) have the right to direct us not to “sell” or “share” your personal information (as defined under laws like CCPA/CPRA) or process it for “targeted advertising” (as defined under laws like VCDPA, CPA, CTDPA). You can exercise this right by clicking the ‘Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information’ link located in our website footer, which will open our consent management settings panel.
    • Right to Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information (California): Request that we limit our use of your sensitive personal information to specific permitted purposes.
    • Right to Data Portability: Obtain a copy of your data in a portable format.
    • Right to Non-Discrimination: Not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights.
    • Right to Opt-In for Sensitive Data (Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut): These states require opt-in consent before processing sensitive data (as defined by their laws).
  • 9.3 Exercising Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in Section 15 (“Contact Us”). We will respond to your request consistent with applicable law. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. You may also be able to manage certain preferences directly via our Consent Management Platform, accessible through the privacy settings link in our website footer (this may be the same link as ‘Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information’, or you might consider adding a separate ‘Cookie Settings’ link that also triggers the panel).  

10. Cookies and Tracking Technologies This section provides details about how we use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like pixels or web beacons) on our Website.

  • 10.1 What are Cookies? Cookies are small text files placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the site owners.  
  • 10.2 How We Use Cookies: We use cookies for several purposes:
    • Essential Cookies: These are strictly necessary for the Website to function properly (e.g., enabling navigation, security, storing your consent preferences). They generally do not require consent but are always active.
    • Performance and Analytics Cookies: These help us understand how visitors interact with our Website by collecting information anonymously (e.g., Google Analytics). They allow us to count visits, identify traffic sources, and see which pages are popular, helping us improve the Website. These only run with your consent.
    • Functional Cookies: These enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferences (e.g., language choice, fonts). These only run with your consent.
    • Targeting and Advertising Cookies (including Affiliate Cookies): These cookies may be set through our site by us, our advertising partners, or affiliate networks. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant content or advertisements on other sites, or to track referrals from affiliate links. Use of these cookies may constitute “sharing” or processing for “targeted advertising” under certain US state laws. These only run with your consent.
  • 10.3 Your Choices and Managing Cookies: We respect your right to privacy. When you first visit our Website, you will see a cookie banner presented by our Consent Management Platform (CMP).
    • For visitors from the EEA/UK (GDPR): We require your explicit opt-in consent before setting any non-essential cookies (Performance, Functional, Targeting/Advertising). You can accept all, reject all non-essential, or customize your choices via the CMP.
    • For visitors from California and other US States (CCPA/CPRA, VCDPA, CPA, etc.): The banner provides notice about our cookie use and may offer an opt-out link directly. You have the right to opt-out of the “sale” or “sharing” of your personal information or processing for “targeted advertising” which often involves non-essential cookies. You can exercise this right [the right to opt-out mentioned just before this] by clicking the ‘Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information’ link located in our website footer, which allows you to adjust your preferences within our CMP.
    • All Visitors: You can change your cookie preferences at any time via the settings in our CMP, accessible through the privacy settings link in our website footer. You can also typically control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to view, manage, delete, and block cookies for a website. However, blocking all cookies (including essential ones) may affect the functionality of the Website.
  • 10.4 Third-Party Cookies: Some cookies may be placed by third-party service providers, such as those listed in our consent management platform (e.g., Google Analytics, advertising partners). These third parties collect data directly according to their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review their policies.  
  • 10.5 Cookie Duration: Cookies can be “session” cookies (deleted when you close your browser) or “persistent” cookies (remain on your device for a set period). The duration of specific cookies we use may vary; details are available within our CMP settings panel.

11. Security We implement and maintain reasonable technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. However, please remember that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.  

12. Third-Party Links Our Website may contain links to other websites operated by third parties. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.  

13. Children’s Privacy Our Website is not directed to individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have inadvertently received personal information from a child under 16, we will delete such information from our records. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us. Note that under CCPA/CPRA, we must obtain opt-in consent to sell or share the personal information of consumers aged 13 to 16.  

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date at the top. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.  

15. Contact Us If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, or if you wish to exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at: Clearest Solar Email: infoclearestsolar@gmail.com

We will endeavor to respond to your inquiry as promptly as possible and consistent with applicable law.