Privacy Policy
This policy explains what personal information SolarRatings.org collects, how we use and share it, and the rights available to you under federal and state law.
1. Summary of Key Points
This policy applies to all visitors and users of solarratings.org and any sub-domains we operate. It does not apply to the websites of Service Professionals to whom we refer you.
2. Information We Collect
Information you provide directly
When you use our solar savings estimator or request quotes, we collect: first and last name, email address, phone number, property address, ZIP code, estimated monthly electric bill amount, roof information (age, type, ownership status), and optional financing or purchase-timeline preferences. If you consent to be contacted, we record the consent timestamp and the page URL where consent was given.
Information collected automatically
Our servers and third-party analytics tools automatically collect: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited and time spent, device identifiers, and general geographic location inferred from your IP. We use cookies and similar technologies — see Section 6.
Information from other sources
We may receive information about you from advertising platforms (e.g., Facebook Lead Ads, Google Lead Form Extensions) when you submit your information through an ad. We may also receive basic property-record data from public permit databases and third-party enrichment services to verify or supplement what you provide.
3. How We Use Your Information
- To fulfill your quote request: match your property and preferences with licensed solar installers in your area.
- To communicate with you: send a confirmation, follow-up information about your estimate, or educational solar content you have opted into.
- To improve the service: analyze aggregate trends, measure page performance, and refine our installer-review methodology.
- To fulfill legal obligations: respond to privacy rights requests, comply with applicable law, and maintain records required by consumer-protection regulations.
- To prevent fraud and abuse: detect spam submissions and protect the integrity of the quote-matching process.
5. Consent to Be Contacted (TCPA)
By submitting a quote request, you provide your prior express written consent to be contacted by SolarRatings.org and the Service Professionals to whom we refer your information. Contact may include calls, text messages, and emails, including calls placed using an automatic telephone dialing system or prerecorded/artificial voice messages, to the phone number(s) you provide. Consent is not a condition of any purchase or receipt of services.
You may revoke consent to calls and texts at any time by: (a) replying STOP to any text message, (b) telling any caller that you revoke consent, or (c) sending a written revocation to privacy@solarratings.org. Revoking consent does not delete previously shared data; if you also want us to delete your data, see Section 11.
7. How Long We Keep Your Information
Lead records (the information submitted through our estimator) are retained for up to five (5) years from the date of collection, unless you request deletion or a shorter retention is required by law. Consent records are retained for the minimum period required by applicable TCPA guidance. Analytics and server log data are retained for up to 26 months.
When data is no longer needed, we delete or anonymise it. Copies held by Service Professionals are subject to their own retention policies.
8. How We Keep Your Information Safe
We use industry-standard technical and organizational measures including encryption in transit (TLS), access controls limited to authorized personnel, and regular security reviews. No method of electronic transmission is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but will notify you of a breach as required by law.
9. Children and Minors
This site is not directed at persons under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has submitted information to us, contact us at privacy@solarratings.org and we will promptly delete it.
10. International Data Transfers
SolarRatings.org is operated in the United States and is intended for US residents. If you are located outside the US, your information will be transferred to and processed in the US, where privacy laws may differ from those in your country.
11. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your state of residence, you may have some or all of the following rights:
- Access / Know: request a copy of the personal information we hold about you and the categories of third parties with whom we share it.
- Correction: request that we correct inaccurate personal information.
- Deletion: request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
- Opt out of sale / sharing: direct us to stop selling or sharing your personal information with third parties. Use Do Not Sell My Personal Information.
- Opt out of targeted advertising: request that we stop using your data for cross-context behavioural advertising.
- Non-discrimination: we will not deny you service, charge different prices, or provide a lesser-quality experience because you exercise your privacy rights.
- Appeal: if we deny your request, you may appeal by contacting us at privacy@solarratings.org with the subject line “Privacy Rights Appeal.”
To exercise any right, visit our privacy request form or email privacy@solarratings.org. We will verify your identity before processing requests and respond within 45 days (extendable by an additional 45 days with notice).
12. Do-Not-Track Signals
Some browsers transmit a Do Not Track (DNT) signal to websites. We do not currently have a standardized mechanism in place to honour DNT signals. The opt-out rights described in Section 11 are available regardless of DNT status.
13. US State Privacy Rights
The following states have enacted comprehensive consumer privacy laws. Residents of these states are entitled to the rights described in Section 11. We handle all requests regardless of state residency.
| State | Law | Applicable rights (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| California | CCPA / CPRA | Know, delete, correct, opt out of sale/share, opt out of sensitive data use, non-discrimination, appeal |
| Colorado | CPA | Access, delete, correct, portability, opt out of sale and targeted advertising, appeal |
| Connecticut | CTDPA | Access, delete, correct, portability, opt out of sale and profiling, appeal |
| Virginia | VCDPA | Access, delete, correct, portability, opt out of sale and targeted advertising, appeal |
| Utah | UCPA | Access, delete, portability, opt out of sale and targeted advertising |
| Texas, Oregon, Montana, and others | Various 2024–2025 enactments | Substantially similar rights — see our privacy request form for details |
Categories of personal information collected (CCPA categories):
| Category | Examples | Collected | Sold / Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identifiers | Name, email, phone, IP address | Yes | Yes — to Service Professionals |
| Customer records | Address, property details, electric bill | Yes | Yes — to Service Professionals |
| Internet / network activity | Browse history on our site, cookie data | Yes | Limited — analytics providers only |
| Geolocation | Property address, ZIP code | Yes | Yes — to match local installers |
| Sensitive personal information | None intentionally collected | No | No |
| Financial information | Estimated monthly electric bill (not bank/credit data) | Yes (self-reported estimate only) | Yes — to Service Professionals |
14. How to Exercise Your Rights & Contact Us
To submit a privacy rights request — opt out of sale/sharing, request a copy of your data, or ask us to delete your information — use our Privacy Request Form or email privacy@solarratings.org with the subject line “Privacy Rights Request.”
We will verify your identity (typically by matching the email address you provide against our records), acknowledge your request within 10 business days, and complete the request within 45 calendar days. We may extend this period by an additional 45 days if needed, with advance notice.
Privacy Officer
SolarRatings.org / DirectSolar.ai
Email: privacy@solarratings.org
This policy may be updated periodically. Material changes will be announced by posting the new policy with an updated \“Last updated\” date. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.