GDPR-style requests
We rely on consent where optional storage or tracking is used, legitimate interests for basic site security and diagnostics, and request handling for manufacturer submissions.
Privacy center
Privacy & Cookie Notice
This page explains what BalconyWatt collects, why it is used, how affiliate links work, and how visitors can manage cookie-style storage, location lookup, and privacy choices.
Effective date: August 5, 2026
This notice is a practical compliance baseline for the current site. It should be reviewed by qualified counsel before paid checkout, ad tracking, analytics, email automation, or expanded data processing is launched.
Plain-English summary
BalconyWatt collects only what is needed for the current website.
The site stores cart and consent preferences in your browser, receives manufacturer review submissions if you send them, may process your public IP address when you choose the state detector, and may appear in normal hosting logs. Selected-state preferences are saved only if functional storage is allowed. We do not currently sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising.
Information We Collect
Site use and server logs
Production hosting providers may log IP address, browser details, requested pages,
timestamps, and error events for security, diagnostics, and site delivery.
Saved preferences
The site uses local storage for privacy choices and cart state. Selected state and similar
convenience preferences are saved only when functional storage is allowed.
Manufacturer submissions
If you submit a product for review, we receive the company, contact, email, product,
documentation links, compliance notes, sample terms, affiliate terms, and pitch you provide.
During the Vercel/Supabase transition, those submissions may be stored in a private
Supabase database instead of sent only by email.
State detection
If you click Detect my state, your public IP may be used to estimate your U.S. state and
return a coarse region result. BalconyWatt does not write a cookie for that lookup.
Email updates
BalconyWatt is not collecting newsletter signups on the site yet. If email updates open later,
this notice will be updated before collection begins.
State Lookup and IP Use
The Which States Qualify page no longer performs automatic IP lookup on page load. It runs only when you click Detect my state. The lookup is used to estimate your state for the legislative tracker, not to identify you personally.
On the live server, the lookup first calls a same-origin BalconyWatt endpoint. That endpoint may ask ipapi.co for coarse region data and returns only the state/country result to your browser. If the endpoint is unavailable, the browser may make the lookup directly.
Affiliate Links and Store Activity
BalconyWatt participates in affiliate commerce, including Amazon affiliate links that may include tracking parameters. When you click an affiliate link, you leave BalconyWatt and the partner's own privacy notice, cookie rules, and purchase tracking may apply.
As an Amazon Associate, BalconyWatt earns from qualifying purchases. Editorial reviews should continue to disclose samples, sponsorships, and affiliate relationships where relevant.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, including the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, California, and other U.S. states, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, object to, or receive a copy of personal information. You may also have the right to withdraw consent.
California requests
California residents may request access, deletion, correction, and opt out of sale or sharing for cross-context behavioral advertising.
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
BalconyWatt does not currently sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. Use this control to record an opt-out preference before any future advertising or marketing integrations are added.
Retention, Security, and Children
BalconyWatt keeps submitted information only as long as needed for editorial review, business records, security, or legal obligations. The site is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
No website can guarantee perfect security. Production hosting should keep HTTPS active, enforce security headers, and keep service keys outside browser-accessible code.
Contact
For privacy requests, product submission data requests, or affiliate disclosure questions, contact privacy@balconywatt.com. If that mailbox is not yet configured, use reviews@balconywatt.com.