Solar Wind Tech Privacy Policy
About Solar Wind Tech
Solar Wind Tech (also referred to herein as “SWT”) is a website devoted to the accumulation and dissemination of information related to Solar and Wind Energy technologies.
SWT is a website dedicated to the creation of a community of industries, small and large, that are engaged in the solar and wind-powered industries. SWT web-powered services include three apps that provide the core functions of the website. They are the SWT Directory, the SWT Blog, and the SWT Social app. These apps provide power tools to for companies and individuals to create a niche network of people, companies, services, information, and business opportunities. Access to good accurate information, trustworthy services, proven products, and knowledgeable people is a key block in building a successful business. Please join us in creating that kind of environment in the SWT environment.
It is of utmost importance to SWT that you feel assured that your personal information is well protected in the SWT environment. It is with this in mind that this article concerning your personal information is handled the SWT environment. Please read this article thoroughly for a better understanding.
SWT DOES NOT AND WILL NOT SELL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
Introduction to Our Privacy Policy
SWT's products, services, and websites cater to users across various locations with specific privacy requirements. This privacy policy, along with related Privacy Notices, outlines how we collect, use, protect, share, and transfer information about you when you use our products, services, websites, or apps or interact with SWT. It also covers how we handle information on California residents under the CCPA.
In this policy, "Personal data" includes "personal information" as defined under the CCPA. Personal data encompasses any information about you by which you can be identified or identifiable, either on its own or when combined with other information. This may include your name, email address, username, device information (e.g., IP address), and details about how you use and interact with our sites, apps, and services.
Here's an overview of how our privacy notices work based on your interactions:
- This Privacy Notice applies to interactions through SWT and it's apps and the use of our products and services.
- For interactions through your organization's SWT Directory listing, SWT Blog app, or SWT Social app, we process limited information as a controller.
Please refer to the specific Privacy Notices based on your interactions for detailed information.
General Privacy Notice for SWT
This Privacy Notice applies to you when engaging with our services, including participation in the SWT Directory, SWT Blog, or SWT Social apps, in comment sections, forums, or other interactions. This includes instances such as when you purchase or use our Advertising, Teams, Collectives, or other products ("Products"), or when you contact our Customer Service, Sales, or other teams for assistance or inquiries ("Services").
SWT provides a platform for individual users to participate in a community, sharing knowledge and expertise. The community is community-moderated, and the content in the SWT is public, visible to anyone, and subject to our Public SWT Terms of Use.
Below, you'll find details about the personal information we collect when you use Public SWT or our Products and Services, how and why we collect it, how we use it, and how we ensure its security.
This Privacy Notice also informs you about your rights, how to exercise those rights, and how the law protects you. SWT acts as the Controller responsible for your personal data collected on the Public Network or directly by us for SWT operational purposes. For certain Products and Services, SWT acts as the Processor for organizations that provide your data to us or use our Products and Services.
If you interact with SWT through your organization, please refer to specific privacy notices applicable to those Products.
For any questions regarding this Privacy Notice or the use of your personal data, please contact us at
What Information Does SWT Collect?
This section outlines the categories and details of personal information that we collect through our Products and Services. We collect and process your personal information to offer our clients and provide you with our Products and Services.
If you choose not to provide personal information when requested, you may not have access to some or all of our services, and you may be unable to use SWT or certain Products and Services. For instance, without the necessary information for account registration, such as your email address, we cannot register you for certain account services.
We collect the following types of data:
- Identity Data
Information such as your username, password, email address, and IP address (collected at each site visit). This information is used to identify individual users of SWT and attribute activities to you. Usernames, profile pictures, question-and-answer content, and reputations are publicly visible. Deleted content may remain accessible to specific community members or SWT employees. - Contact Data
This includes your delivery address, email address, and telephone numbers for operational purposes, including the provision of Services and Products. - Technical Data
Technical information, including your internet protocol (IP) address, login data, traffic data, browser type and version, time zone setting and location, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system, and platform. This data, along with other account and usage information, may be utilized for diagnosis, security, and optimizing Products and Services.
Account Registration Information
When you register for an SWT account, we collect your name, email address, username, and any additional information you provide. A unique identification number is generated to recognize you when signed in. This information is crucial for account registration purposes. While SWT allows for anonymous and pseudonymous participation, certain Products or Services may require account registration, necessitating a name associated with your account, a contact address, a billing address, and a password for enhanced security.
Billing Information
For Products and Services with payment requirements, we collect billing details, including name, phone number, email address, billing, and shipping addresses for invoicing purposes. If paying by credit card, payment processing is done securely through a PCI DSS-compliant third party. Only an encrypted token, the last four digits, and the expiration date of the credit card are stored.
Profile Information
Completing a public profile, whether for SWT and it's apps, or our Products and Services, may require personally identifying information. Publicly displayed information includes usernames, profile pictures, reputations, and certain elective components like blogs, display pictures, affiliated roles, company details, location, and preferences. Some information is publicly displayed and required, such as membership duration.
Information for Identification and Authentication
This information is essential for recognizing and authenticating users, ensuring account security, and preventing fraud.
Analytics Information
We use data analytics for site functionality and to optimize Product and Service offerings. We use web browser and mobile analytics to allow us to understand SWT and the functionality of its Apps. Analytics are also used to observe user contributions, performance data, errors, debugging information, and user activity. On occasion, this information may be shared with contracted third parties.
Industry Surveys, Questionnaires, Research, and Feedback Programs
Information collected through surveys and feedback programs aids product improvement and provides insights. Consent is sought before using this information.
Marketing and Sales Information
Details of received services, preferences, device information, cookies, and similar technologies are collected for tailoring content and providing personalized experiences.
Data Received Automatically from Devices and Browsers
When visiting SWT, information is automatically received from browsers or mobile devices, including IP addresses, unique identifiers, and data about visited pages. This information is used for security, analysis, optimization, personalized advertising, and job opportunity connections.
Location Information
When you use SWT, and certain of our Products and Services, we collect location information about you, including your IP address, your location, browser information, and how you came to SWT. This is the case for individuals who have registered for an account, and non-members who engage with SWT by visiting our website(s), but who have not completed an account registration.
This information is collected for various purposes, including advertising, analytics and to serve content as it relates to certain Products or Services, as well as to provide you with localized content, recommendations, and marketing. You may revoke our permission to collect some of this data, including your location and browser information through your Account Settings, but this may limit functionality in some cases. Certain location information we collect is required for security and site functionality. We share this information with certain third parties (e.g., talent recruiters, payment processors, and advertising providers) to provide you with our Products and Services.
You should not include any financial information or other information you do not wish to make public when using SWT, a public website. We do not collect such information. It is your responsibility to keep such information safe and secure.
How We Collect Information From You
Information That You Give to Us
- Account Information
When creating an SWT account, we require your email address, username, and password. Your username is the only public information. Optionally, you can provide additional details such as your name, bio, or profile picture. User account preferences and settings are also stored. - Content You Submit
We collect the content you submit to SWT, including posts, comments, and any communications with moderators or us. - Actions You Take
Information about your actions on SWT is collected, encompassing interactions with content (voting, saving, hiding, reporting) and with other users (following). Interactions with communities, such as subscriptions or moderator status, are also recorded. - Transactional Information
If you make purchases from us, we collect specific information, including your name, address, email address, and details about the purchased product or service. - Other Information
You have the option to provide additional information directly to us. This may include data submitted through forms, registrations for products, newsletters, or services, participation in surveys or SWT-sponsored activities, job applications, requests for customer support, or any other form of communication with us.
Information We Generate or Collect Automatically Through Your Use of Our Services or via Our IT Systems
- Log and Usage Data
When you access and use SWT, we log information about the systems and devices you utilize, including IP address, browser type and version, time zone setting, operating system and platform, device type, and identifiers. This encompasses data about your visits to our sites, full URL clickstream, mobile app usage, and information facilitating your use of SWT, such as URL requests, destination IP addresses, and device configuration details. Additionally, we collect data on pages viewed, search activity, page response times, download errors, length of visits, page interactions (scrolling, clicks, mouse-overs), engagement with dynamic elements, and methods used to navigate away from pages. - Information Collected from SWT's IT Systems
Information may be gathered from door entry systems, reception logs (e.g., office visits), automated monitoring of websites, and technical systems (computer networks, connections, CCTV, access control systems, communications systems, email, and instant messaging systems). - Information Collected from Cookies and Similar Technologies
We utilize cookies and similar technologies, small text files that gather technical information, to operate and provide SWT services. This data is used for improving service quality, enhancing user experience, understanding user activity, and personalizing content and advertisements. Details on how SWT uses cookies and disabling options can be found in our cookie policy. - Location Information
With your consent, we may receive and process information about your location, utilizing methods such as GPS or Bluetooth for mobile devices.
Information We Collect About You From Third Parties
- Third-Party Services
Information is collected through third-party services like Google Ads and Google Analytics for targeted advertisements, personalized content, and analytics. - Links and Social Media
Our Products and Services may contain links to and from social media platforms. If you connect with us through social media, we may collect additional information, including usernames, profile pictures, contact information, and interactions. Social media platforms may also gather information about your engagement with our Products and Services. Privacy policies associated with these platforms should be reviewed before usage. - Information We Collect From Other Sources
Information from third parties is obtained to combat fraud, provide services, or relate to your interactions. This includes communications between individuals, organizations, prospects, and other stakeholders acquired from companies sharing combined information with us.
Information Collected from Advertisers and Potential Advertisers
- Contact Forms
When you reach out to us for information about advertisements, we gather essential details through our web form, including your:
- Name
- Telephone number
- Other relevant information
If you proceed to purchase advertising services, we will require transactional information, and additional documentation may be necessary to verify your identity.
- Integration of Information
We may consolidate the information obtained from the diverse sources mentioned above to enhance our understanding and better serve your needs.
How SWT Uses Your Personal Information
This section outlines the purposes for which we use your information and the legal grounds that validate our usage. We adhere to valid reasons and legal foundations when utilizing your personal data, aligning them with the specific purposes for which they were collected.
Purposes for Collecting and Using Personal Information
- Verify Identity and Enable Access
Authenticate your identity and enable access to products and services when you contact us or utilize our services. - Fraud Prevention and Detection
Protect against fraud and implement measures for fraud prevention and detection. - Provide Commercial Quotes
Furnish commercial quotes, especially when you inquire about a product or service. - Statistical Analysis
Conduct statistical analysis on the use of our websites. - Operate and Improve Services
Operate and enhance our websites and services. - Notify of Changes
Inform you of any changes to our websites, services, and products that may impact you. - Technical and Customer Support
Offer technical and customer support. - Seek Opinions and Feedback
Request your opinions or feedback on our services or surveys. - Communication About SWT Products or Services
Communicate with you regarding other SWT products or services, events, offers, promotions, and relevant information. Opt-out options are provided with each communication. - Enforce Legal Rights and Compliance
Enforce our legal rights or comply with legal requirements. - Improved Website and Product Experience
Provide an improved website and product experience, tailored to your product subscriptions and/or collected data.
Legal Grounds for Using Your Personal Data
We employ your personal data only in circumstances where the law permits us to do so, with the following legal grounds
- Performance of Contract
When we need to fulfill the contract we are entering into or have entered into with you, such as when you purchase a product or service. - Consent:
When we have your consent, for instance, to send marketing emails or to be contacted by a third-party sponsor for an event. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. - Legal or Regulatory Obligation
When we need to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation. - Legitimate Interests
When processing is in our legitimate interests or a third party's legitimate interest, including commercial interests. We ensure a balance between our interests and individual interests before processing. Activities, where individual interests override ours, are excluded from processing based on legitimate interests.
What SWT Uses Your Personal Data for and the Legal Basis
The list below provides additional details on the personal data collected and the legal basis for its usage.
- Providing the Network, Products, and Services to You
Legal Basis: To perform our contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract. - Preventing and Detecting Fraud Against You or Us
Legal Basis: For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e., to minimize fraud that could be damaging for you and/or us. - Keeping Your Personal Data Secure
Legal Basis: Our legitimate interests. Ensuring the safety and security of your personal data and the information you share with us and the public. - Providing, Improving, and Optimizing Our Products and Services
Legal Basis: Our legitimate interests. Using your information to provide and enhance our Products and Services, for identification, verification, support, marketing, research, and analytics reporting. - Engaging in Commercial Transactions
Legal Basis: To perform a contract or provide requested services. - Complying with Regulatory and Legal Obligations
Legal Basis: Our legitimate interest in complying with regulatory obligations and protecting the SWT community from imminent physical harm. - Core Business Operations
Legal Basis: Our legitimate interests in business transactions, asset buying/selling, auditing, and business development opportunities. - Conducting Checks to Identify Customers and Verify Identity
Legal Basis: To comply with legal and regulatory obligations. - Screening for Financial and Other Sanctions or Embargoes
Legal Basis: To comply with legal and regulatory obligations. - Other Activities Necessary to Comply with Professional, Legal, and Regulatory Obligations
Legal Basis: To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, e.g., health and safety law or rules issued by our professional regulator. - Gathering and Providing Information Required by or Relating to Audits, Inquiries, or Investigations by Regulatory Bodies
Legal Basis: To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. - Ensuring Business Policies Are Adhered To (e.g., Security and Internet Use)
Legal Basis: For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e., ensuring adherence to internal procedures for delivering the best service. - Operational Reasons (e.g., Improving Efficiency, Training, and Quality Control)
Legal Basis: For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e., to enhance efficiency and deliver the best service. - Ensuring the Confidentiality of Commercially Sensitive Information
Legal Basis: For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e., protecting trade secrets and commercially valuable information, and to comply with legal and regulatory obligations. - Statistical Analysis to Help Manage Business (e.g., Financial Performance, Customer Base)
Legal Basis: For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e., to be efficient and deliver the best service at the best price. - Preventing Unauthorized Access and Modifications to Systems
Legal Basis: For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e., preventing and detecting criminal activity that could be damaging. - Updating and Enhancing Customer Records
Legal Basis: To perform our contract with you, to comply with legal and regulatory obligations, and for our legitimate interests, e.g., keeping in touch about orders and new products. - Statutory Returns
Legal Basis: To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations. - Ensuring Safe Working Practices, Staff Administration, and Assessments
Legal Basis: To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, and for our legitimate interests, ensuring adherence to internal procedures for efficient service delivery. - Marketing Our Services to Existing and Former Customers, Third Parties with Previous Interest, and Those with No Previous Dealings
Legal Basis: For our legitimate interests, promoting our business to existing and former customers and other interested parties. - External Audits and Quality Checks (e.g., ISO or Investors in People Accreditation)
Legal Basis: For our legitimate interests or those of a third party, i.e., maintaining accreditations to demonstrate operation at the highest standards, and to comply with legal and regulatory obligations.
Additional Details on Personal Data Usage
Cookies and Similar Technologies
When you visit SWT and related apps, we may automatically collect personal data using cookies or similar technologies. Cookies, small files on your device, help us recognize and remember you. With your consent, we may place cookies on your device and partner with third parties, including advertising partners, who use cookies for personalized advertising based on your browsing activities. Refer to our cookie policy for more details.
Tracking
SWT emails utilize Javascript for tracking opens, clicks, and unsubscribes, often containing an invisible, one-pixel image notifying us when an email is opened. Similar processes may track links or attachments, providing insights into engagement.
Industry Survey
SWT may publish Industrial Surveys, occasionally including demographic and personal information. Participation is voluntary, and for meaningful insights, sensitive data like gender, age, and location may be collected. Strict measures safeguard this data, and publication involves anonymized data compilation. Consent may be sought for post-survey contact.
Advertising on our Network
Working with third-party advertisers involves tracking, targeting, and measuring using personal data. Consent is obtained through our consent management portal or other mechanisms before using personal data in this manner. Targeting includes topic tags, geography, industry/company size, and measuring involves tools like MOAT, Doubleverify, IAS tags, and conversion pixels.
Other Third-Party Online and Digital Advertising
Interactions with us may result in personalized advertising content. Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising are utilized for personalized advertising, and consent is sought before sharing personal data with these services. Users can control data use for interest-based advertising through opt-out mechanisms provided by Google and Microsoft.
Content Branding
SWT offers a directory and blog functions allowing organizations to share branded content on the website. Customers control the page's content, with an admin key and the ability to invite others. Dynamic content resides externally, accessible through links. Users can follow pages and receive weekly email digests. The Customer may interact with public users but must ensure users read privacy notices.
Who Does SWT Share Your Personal Data With?
We share personal data with:
- Companies within the SWT community.
- Third parties providing professional services.
- Third parties aiding in product and service delivery, such as payment processors, cloud service providers (e.g., Microsoft Azure), and others.
- Single sign-on solution providers (e.g., Facebook, Google) for account login.
- Third parties partnering for product and service delivery, including Content Branding and SWT Social and Industrial Groups.
- Advertising partners (e.g., Google Ads, Microsoft Bing) for personalized advertising, respecting user choices and preferences.
- Event sponsors and partners for marketing purposes with user consent.
- Third parties approved by the user, such as survey organizers or linked social media sites.
- APIs that enable users to download publicly available information.
- Authorities that require reporting for specific circumstances (e.g., anti-money laundering).
- In case of selling, transferring, or merging business parts, personal data may be shared, with the new owners following the privacy notice.
- All third parties are obligated to respect the security of personal data and use it only for specified purposes, following contractual obligations for adequate protection. Third-party service providers are not allowed to use personal data for their purposes.
How Long Does SWT Retain Your Personal Information?
We retain your personal information for the duration necessary for the purposes outlined in this privacy notice and to meet legal obligations. We keep data at a minimum and, as long as you're an SWT user or customer, we retain your data to continue providing services. Basic customer information might be kept for an extended period according to tax and legal laws. You can request data deletion in specific cases.
Your Choices - How to Access and Control Your Personal Data
You have control over your data collection and use by SWT
- Change or correct account settings, opting not to share certain information, or removing optional data.
- Control personal data collected by SWT and exercise data protection rights through tools provided.
- Note that access or control over personal data may be limited under applicable law.
Promotional Emails, SMS Messages, Telephone Calls, and Postal Mail from SWT
Opt out of promotional emails, texts, or calls by using the provided 'unsubscribe' option. You can also express preferences regarding promotional mail. Manage preferences in your Profile Settings.
Interest-Based Advertising
Opt out of interest-based advertising
- Control Microsoft's use of your data by visiting their opt-out page.
- Opt out of Google advertising or learn more through Google's help center.
Explore resources like NAI Consumer Opt-Out and YourAdChoices.com for more information on controlling ad choices and opting out of interest-based advertising.
For accessing or controlling personal data not covered by tools, refer to Your Rights or contact
Your Rights
You possess various rights concerning your personal data, and you can contact us to exercise these rights. Your rights include:
- Access
Obtain a copy of your personal data through a "data subject access request. - Rectification
Require correction of any inaccuracies in your personal data. - Erasure
Request deletion of your personal data in specific situations. - Restriction of Processing
Demand limiting the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances, such as contesting data accuracy. - Data Portability
Receive your provided personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, or transmit it to a third party in certain situations. - Right to Object
Object at any time to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing or, in certain situations, our continued processing based on legitimate interests.
To exercise these rights, submit a data request. We might need specific information to confirm your identity before processing your request, and we aim to respond within one month. If the request is complex, it might take longer, and we will notify you accordingly.
You have the right to address your concerns with the UK or EU Supervisory Authority, depending on your location.
Where We Process Your Information (Locations)
SWT processes your information through its entities in the United States. Note that privacy laws and standards in certain countries may differ from your country of residence. We transfer personal information only to countries where permitted by law, ensuring continued safeguarding of your data. Further details are available within the policy.
International Data Transfers
In providing services to you, it may be necessary for us to transfer or share your personal data with countries other than your own:
- Our Offices or Group Companies
This includes entities outside the US. - Service Providers
Sharing data with service providers, like cloud service providers, located outside the US. - International Clients
If you are based outside the US. - Services with an International Dimension
When there's an international aspect to the services we provide to you.
For such transfers, we commit to:
- Transfer to countries with an "adequacy decision" for personal data protection.
- Implement appropriate supplementary measures ensuring personal data protection.
By using SWT and interacting with our Products and Services, you acknowledge that your personal data may be collected and transferred from your local jurisdiction (including those in the US) to other jurisdictions.
Our Ongoing Commitment to Data Security
Security is a top priority for us. SWT adheres to generally accepted standards, including Transport Layer Security (“TLS”), to protect your personal information during processing, transfer, and storage.
We have security measures in place to prevent accidental loss, unauthorized access, or unlawful use of personal data. Access to your data is restricted to those with a genuine business need and only as necessary for our legitimate interests. In the event of a suspected data security breach, we have procedures in place to address it. We will notify you and relevant regulators of a suspected breach if legally required.
To further safeguard your information, we encourage you to:
- Choose a strong password.
- Share your password only with trusted individuals.
- Ensure your computer accesses SWT via a secure network.
- Avoid leaving your computer unattended or failing to log out of your account to prevent unauthorized access.
You can find more information about (a) what we collect and sources of that information, (b) the business and commercial purposes for collecting that information, and (c) the categories of third parties with whom we share that information in the sections of our privacy statement above.
Additional Information for California Consumers
California consumers have additional rights under the CCPA (subject to certain limitations), including the right to request access to or deletion of your personal information, and information about our data practices, as well as the right not to be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights.
These rights can be exercised by contacting us at
We will verify your request using the information associated with your account, including email address. Government identification may be required. Consumers can also designate an authorized agent to exercise these rights on their behalf.
Children
The SWT platform is not intended for children. We do not knowingly offer this or any other Product or Service to anyone under the age of 16.
Privacy policy amendments
We may amend or update this policy from time to time and will notify you of any material changes to this policy. Previous versions of this privacy policy are available upon request.
Contact SWT
Privacy Officer, 16946 W. Young St., Surprise, AZ 85388,