1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They allow the site to recognize your browser, remember preferences, and improve your user experience. Pixels, tags, local storage, and similar technologies (collectively “cookies”) are treated the same for the purposes of this Policy.
2. Who Sets Cookies on Our Site?
First-party cookies are dropped directly by AEC Solar.
Third-party cookies are set by service providers such as analytics, advertising, and social-media partners.
3. Why We Use Cookies
We deploy cookies to:
- operate core site functions and secure areas;
- remember language, location, or form inputs you have provided;
- analyze traffic patterns and measure performance (e.g., Google Analytics);
- deliver personalized advertising and retargeting (e.g., Google Ads, Meta Pixel);
- enable social-sharing features and embedded media.
4. Categories of Cookies
- Strictly Necessary Cookies – essential for the Site to work and cannot be switched off (e.g., session and security cookies).
- Performance / Analytics Cookies – collect aggregated data about pages visited and errors encountered so we can improve functionality.
- Functional Cookies – remember your choices (such as preferred ZIP code for solar eligibility) and enhance personalization.
- Targeting / Advertising Cookies – build a profile of your interests to show ads relevant to you on other sites; they also limit ad frequency and help measure campaign effectiveness.
- Social-Media Cookies – enable “share” buttons and may track you across other sites if you are logged in to those platforms.
5. Examples of Cookies We Set (Illustrative)
- _ga / _gid – Google Analytics identifiers; expire after 2 years / 24 hours.
- _fbp – Meta Pixel ID; expires after 90 days.
- AEC_SESSION – first-party session token; expires when you close the browser.
- The precise cookie names may vary as our services evolve.
6. Legal Basis for Processing (EEA/UK Visitors)
For strictly necessary cookies, processing is based on our legitimate interest in operating the Site. All other cookies are used based on your consent, which you can withdraw at any time using the browser settings and opt-out tools in Section 7.
7. How to Manage or Disable Cookies
Browser Settings: Most browsers let you refuse or delete cookies through their privacy preferences; however, blocking essential cookies may impede site functionality.
Opt-out Mechanisms: To opt out of Google Analytics across all sites, install the Google Opt-out Browser Add-on; to opt out of interest-based advertising, visit optout.aboutads.info or youronlinechoices.eu.
8. Do Not Track
The Site currently does not respond to “Do Not Track” signals because no common industry standard exists.
9. Retention
Cookie lifespans vary. Session cookies expire when you close your browser; persistent cookies remain until their expiry date unless deleted earlier. Analytics data is retained for up to 26 months, after which it is automatically deleted or anonymized.
10. Third-Party Processing
Third parties that set cookies on our Site act as independent controllers for their own purposes. Their privacy statements govern how they use your data. Key providers include Google LLC (including YouTube) and Meta Platforms Inc.
11. International Transfers
Cookie-derived data may be processed in the United States or other countries where our providers operate. We rely on appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses where required by law.
12. Updates to This Policy
- We may revise this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in technology, law, or our business. Any material change becomes effective when we post the updated Policy with a new “Effective Date.”
