1. Introduction and Scope
EnergyUpgrade Canada ("EnergyUpgrade Canada", "we", "us" or "our") operates the website at energyupgradecanada.com (the "Site"). We are an independent online publisher based in the Kitchener-Waterloo region of Ontario, Canada, producing plain-language, clearly labelled advertorial buyer's guides that help Canadian homeowners decide whether rooftop solar makes financial sense in 2026. We compile average installed system prices, provincial utility rate trends, net metering and feed-in tariff rules, realistic payback timelines and panel warranty terms into balanced comparisons, and we allow readers to request no-obligation quotes from certified local installers.
This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect through the Site, how and why we use it, with whom we share it, and the choices and rights available to you. We handle personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and, where applicable, substantially similar provincial privacy legislation, as well as Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). By using the Site or submitting a form, you acknowledge the practices described in this policy.
2. Information We Collect
We limit our collection to what is reasonably necessary for the purposes described below. The categories of personal information we may collect are:
- Identity and contact information. When you submit our quote request or contact form, we collect your name and email address. These are the details needed to match you with installers and to respond to your enquiry.
- Location information. We collect the province you select so that quotes and rate comparisons can be tailored to your jurisdiction (for example, Ontario, Alberta or Quebec), since solar economics differ significantly across Canadian utilities.
- Message content. Any information you choose to include in the free-text message field, such as questions about your roof, current electricity provider or budget.
- Newsletter information. If you request our free 2026 solar buyer's checklist, we collect your email address and your express consent to receive electronic messages.
- Technical information. When you visit the Site, our servers and hosting provider may automatically log your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring page and the pages you view. This information is used for security and aggregate statistical purposes.
- Cookie information. We store a small consent preference in your browser. Details are set out in our Cookie Policy.
We do not knowingly collect sensitive categories of information such as health, financial account numbers or government identifiers, and we ask that you do not submit such details through our forms.
3. How and Why We Use Your Information
We use the personal information we collect for the following identified purposes:
- To match your quote request with certified local solar installers serving your province and to facilitate the delivery of no-obligation estimates.
- To respond to enquiries, questions and feedback you send us.
- To send the requested 2026 solar buyer's checklist and, where you have consented, occasional informational and promotional updates about solar buying in Canada.
- To maintain, secure and improve the Site, including diagnosing technical problems and analysing aggregate, non-identifying usage trends.
- To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations and to detect, prevent and address fraud, abuse or security incidents.
We will not use your personal information for a new purpose that is materially different from those listed above without first obtaining your consent, unless permitted or required by law.
4. Consent and Legal Basis
Under PIPEDA, we collect, use and disclose personal information with your knowledge and consent, except where the law permits or requires otherwise. By voluntarily completing and submitting a form on the Site, you provide your consent to the processing of the information you supply for the purposes described in Section 3. Where we rely on your express consent — for example, the consent checkbox on our forms and newsletter sign-up — that consent is a clear, affirmative action.
You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice, by contacting us at info@energyupgradecanada.com. Withdrawing consent may mean we can no longer connect you with installers or send you the materials you requested.
5. Disclosure to Third Parties
EnergyUpgrade Canada is an advertorial publisher, and our business model involves connecting interested homeowners with third-party installers. We want to be transparent about how that works:
- Certified local installers. When you submit a quote request, the details you provide (name, email, province and message) are shared with one or more certified installers so they can prepare an estimate for you. We may receive referral compensation from featured companies. This relationship is disclosed prominently on the Site and does not influence the inclusion of critical assessments or risk factors in our editorial content.
- Service providers. We use a hosting provider to operate the Site and an email service provider to respond to enquiries and deliver newsletters. These providers process information only on our instructions and under appropriate confidentiality obligations.
- Legal and regulatory disclosures. We may disclose personal information where required by law, court order, or a lawful request by a government or regulatory authority, or where necessary to protect our rights, safety or property.
We do not sell your personal information. Where information is transferred to or stored by a service provider located outside Canada, it may be subject to the laws of that jurisdiction; we take reasonable steps to ensure a comparable level of protection through contractual safeguards.
6. Retention and Security
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law. Quote and contact form submissions are generally retained for up to twenty-four (24) months, after which they are securely deleted or anonymised. Newsletter subscription records are kept until you unsubscribe. Aggregate technical logs are retained for a shorter period for security purposes.
We protect personal information using safeguards appropriate to its sensitivity, including encryption of data in transit (SSL/TLS), restricted access on a need-to-know basis, and reasonable organisational measures such as confidentiality commitments. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse or alteration.
7. Your Privacy Rights
Subject to limited legal exceptions, PIPEDA gives you the following rights regarding your personal information held by EnergyUpgrade Canada:
- Access. You may request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and request access to that information.
- Correction. You may request that we correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.
- Withdrawal of consent. You may withdraw consent to our use of your information at any time, subject to legal or contractual limits.
- Deletion. You may request deletion of your information where we are not required to retain it.
- Information about our practices. You may ask how your information is collected, used and disclosed, and who is accountable for it.
- Complaint. You may complain about our handling of your information, first to us and then, if unresolved, to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@energyupgradecanada.com. We will respond within thirty (30) days as required under PIPEDA and may ask you to verify your identity before acting on a request.
8. Electronic Messages and CASL
Any commercial electronic message we send complies with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation. We send marketing email only to recipients who have given express or implied consent, every message identifies us and includes our contact information, and every message contains a working, no-cost unsubscribe mechanism that takes effect promptly. You can also opt out at any time by emailing info@energyupgradecanada.com.
9. Cookies and Tracking
The Site uses a strictly necessary cookie-consent preference stored in your browser to remember your choice. We do not deploy third-party tracking scripts that would violate Taboola's data policies. For a full explanation of the cookies and similar technologies we use and how to manage them, please read our Cookie Policy.
10. Children's Privacy
The Site is intended for homeowners and adults aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete it.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when it was most recently revised. Material changes will be highlighted on the Site, and your continued use of the Site after an update constitutes acknowledgement of the revised policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact:
EnergyUpgrade Canada
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Email: info@energyupgradecanada.com
Website: energyupgradecanada.com
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.