equiwatt Cookie Policy

Effective Date: 1 August 2023

1. Application

This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and vendors while doing business with equiwatt and others who have access to European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) data subject information (“personal data”) in connection with equiwatt’s operating activities.

2. Policy

equiwatt believes in transparency about the collection and use of data. This policy provides information about how and when equiwatt uses cookies for these purposes. Capitalised terms used in this policy but not defined have the meaning set forth in our Privacy Policy, which also includes additional details about the collection and use of information at equiwatt.

What is a cookie?

Cookies are small text files sent by us to your computer or mobile device, which enable equiwatt features and functionality. They are unique to your account or your browser. Session-based cookies last only while your browser is open and are automatically deleted when you close your browser. Persistent cookies last until you or your browser delete them or until they expire.

Does equiwatt use cookies?

Yes. equiwatt uses cookies and similar technologies like single-pixel gifs and web beacons. equiwatt uses both session-based and persistent cookies. equiwatt sets and accesses cookies on the domains operated by equiwatt and its corporate affiliates (collectively, the “Sites”). In addition, equiwatt uses third party cookies, like Google Analytics.

How is equiwatt using cookies?

Some cookies are associated with your account and personal information to remember that you are logged in. Other cookies are not tied to your account but are unique and allow us to carry out analytics and customisation, among other similar things.

Cookies can be used to recognise you when you visit a Site or use our Services, remember your preferences, and give you a personalised experience that is consistent with your settings. Cookies also make your interactions faster and more secure. Visit Appendix A to learn more.

Categories of use

• Authentication: If you're signed into the Services, cookies help equiwatt show you the right information and personalise your experience.

• Security: equiwatt uses cookies to enable and support security features, and to help detect malicious activity.

• Preferences, features, and services: Cookies denote which language you prefer and what your communications preferences are. They can help fill out forms on our Sites more easily. They also provide you with features, insights, and customised content.

• Marketing: equiwatt may use cookies to help deliver marketing campaigns and track their performance (e.g., a user visited equiwatt.com and then downloaded the app). Similarly, equiwatt’s partners may use cookies to provide us with information about your interactions with their services, but use of those third-party cookies would be subject to the service provider’s policies.

• Performance, Analytics, and Research: Cookies help equiwatt learn how well the Sites and Services perform. equiwatt also uses cookies to understand, improve, and research products, features, and services, including to create logs and record when you access our Sites and Services from different devices, such as your work computer or your mobile device.

What third-party cookies does equiwatt use?

You can find a list of the third-party cookies that equiwatt uses on our sites along with other relevant information in the Appendix A. equiwatt does its best to keep this table updated, but please note that the number and names of cookies, pixels, and other technologies may change from time to time.

How are cookies used for advertising purposes?

Cookies and other ad technology such as beacons, pixels, and tags help equiwatt market more effectively to users that may be interested in the Services. They also help with aggregated auditing, research, and reporting.

What can you do if you don't want cookies to be set or want them to be removed?

You have the option to disable and delete cookies that may not be necessary for the basic functionality of our website. Please note, blocking categories may impact your experience on our website. You may access the Cookie Manager at any time in the footer of our website, or click on the link below:

Does equiwatt respond to Do Not Track Signals?

The Sites and Services do not collect personal information about your online activities over time and across third-party websites or online services. Therefore, “do not track” signals transmitted from web browsers do not apply to the Sites or Services, and equiwatt does not alter any data collection and use practices upon receipt of such a signal.

Appendix A: What Cookies do you use?

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms or to manage security such as bot protection or trusted websites. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but that will cause some parts of the site to not work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Performance Cookies

These cookies (equiwatt uses Google Analytics) allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to monitor its performance.

To view an overview of the privacy of your Google Analytics cookies please go here: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245.

You may install a Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on by going here: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en-GB.

Marketing Cookies

We also use a website heatmaps and behaviour analytics program (Hotjar) that deploys a cookie when a user interacts with our website. This cookie collects personal information such as which pages you visit on our website, how you arrived at our website, and your purchases from equiwatt. Collected information is used to evaluate the effectiveness of our website or to provide better targeting for marketing. From time to time, cookies set by third parties find their way into this “Marketing” category, but equiwatt does not always have control over those cookies and does not share personal data with those third parties.

Third Party Website Cookies

When using our website, you may be directed to other websites for such activities as surveys, to make payment, for job applications, and to view content hosted on those sites such as an embedded video or news article. These websites may use their own cookies. We do not have control over the placement of cookies by other websites you visit, even if you are directed to them from our website.

How To Control and Delete Cookies

1. Using Your Browser

   Many of the cookies used on our website and through emails can be enabled or disabled through our consent tool or by disabling the cookies through your browser. To disable cookies through your browser, follow the instructions usually located within the “Help,” “Tools” or “Edit” menus in your browser. Please note that disabling a cookie or category of cookies does not delete the cookie from your browser unless manually completed through your browser function.

2. Cookies Set in the Past

   Collection of your data from our analytics cookies can be deleted. If cookies are deleted, the information collected prior to the preference change may still be used.  However, we will stop using the disabled cookie to collect any further information from your user experience. For our marketing cookie, when a user opts out of tracking, a new cookie is placed to prevent users from being tracked.