Introduction
This Privacy Policy explains how SolarSystemCalc ("we," "us," "the site") handles information when you visit solarsystemcalc.com. SolarSystemCalc is an independent online publication, and the operator can be reached at contact@solarsystemcalc.com for any question about this policy. This policy is written to be consistent with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK GDPR, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and it applies to all visitors regardless of location.
The short version: our calculators run entirely in your browser, we do not require an account, we do not operate a backend that stores your calculator inputs, we display no advertising, and the only data kept on your device is a small set of preferences such as your chosen units and currency.
Information We Collect
SolarSystemCalc is designed to collect as little information as possible.
Calculator inputs. Every calculator on this site runs client-side, in your browser. The numbers you enter, such as your roof size, energy usage, or location, are processed locally on your device and are never transmitted to our servers, because we do not operate a backend that receives or stores this data.
Share links. Some calculators let you generate a link that encodes your inputs directly in the URL, so you can share a result with someone else or bookmark it. We do not see or store the contents of these links unless you choose to send them to us, for example by pasting one into the contact form.
Geolocation. The angle calculator can optionally use your browser's geolocation feature to suggest an appropriate panel tilt for your area. This is entirely opt-in through your browser's own permission prompt, the coordinates are used only for that one calculation, and they are never stored, logged, or transmitted anywhere by this site.
Contact form. If you use our contact form, the message and the email address you provide are sent through Formspree, a third-party form processing service, or, depending on your device, may open your default email client addressed to contact@solarsystemcalc.com. We only use this information to respond to you.
Automatically collected data. Like most websites, our web server automatically logs standard technical data such as IP address, browser type, and pages visited, for security purposes and to count aggregate page views. These logs are not used to profile individual visitors and are rotated automatically.
Cookies and Local Storage
We do not set advertising or tracking cookies. The only data stored in your browser falls into these categories:
Preferences. Local storage entries that remember your chosen unit system (metric or imperial), your preferred currency, and similar display settings, so you do not have to reselect them on every visit. These stay on your device and are not sent to us.
You can view and delete any of these at any time through your browser's cookie and site data settings.
Advertising
SolarSystemCalc does not currently display advertising and does not load any advertising or analytics scripts. If we introduce advertising in the future, we will update this policy beforehand, add a consent banner where the law requires one, and describe exactly which providers and cookies are involved.
Consent and Your Choices
Because the site only stores strictly necessary preference data on your device, no consent banner is shown. You can delete the stored preferences at any time by clearing your browser's site data for solarsystemcalc.com; the calculators will simply fall back to their default units and currency.
Third-Party Links
Our pages may link to external websites, such as solar equipment manufacturers, government energy resources, or news articles. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites, and we encourage you to review their own privacy policies before providing them with any information.
Children's Privacy
SolarSystemCalc is not directed at children and is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at contact@solarsystemcalc.com so we can address it.
Your Privacy Rights
If you are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, the GDPR and UK GDPR give you the right to access the personal data we hold about you, request its correction or erasure, restrict or object to its processing, and request a copy of it in a portable format. Because we collect very little personal data, typically limited to what you voluntarily submit through our contact form, most requests can be resolved simply by asking us to delete any message you sent us.
If you are a California resident, the CCPA gives you the right to know what personal information is collected, to request deletion of that information, and to opt out of its sale. SolarSystemCalc does not sell personal information. Any advertising cookies set through Google AdSense operate under Google's own data-sharing terms, and you can manage your preferences through the Google Ads Settings link above.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at contact@solarsystemcalc.com. We will respond within a reasonable time and consistent with applicable law.
Data Retention
We retain messages submitted through our contact form only for as long as needed to respond to your inquiry and to maintain a reasonable record of correspondence, after which they may be deleted. We do not retain calculator inputs, because they are never transmitted to us in the first place. Cookie and local storage data remains on your device until it expires or you clear it yourself.
International Data Transfers
Because SolarSystemCalc's hosting and contact form providers may operate globally, information such as contact form submissions may be processed on servers located outside your country of residence, including in the European Union or the United States. These providers maintain their own safeguards for international data transfers.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal or regulatory reasons. The "updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact Us
If you have any question about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us at contact@solarsystemcalc.com.