Privacy Policy

Who We Are

This website is operated by C.L.E Renewable Energy, a trading name of C.L.E Building & Mechanical Services.

Our website is clerenewableenergy.co.uk. We provide heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing and renewable-energy related services, primarily across Kent with additional coverage in South London and Surrey.

For personal information collected directly through our website, enquiries and our dealings with customers, C.L.E Building & Mechanical Services is the relevant data controller unless another organisation is identified as the controller for a particular service.

A data controller determines why and how personal information is processed.

Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you use our website and how you interact with us. We aim to collect only information that is relevant and reasonably necessary for the purpose concerned.

Information you provide to us

This may include:

• Your name.
• Email address.
• Telephone number.
• Property, installation or service address where you provide it.
• Details about the property or work you are enquiring about.
• Information needed to prepare or discuss a quotation or estimate.
• Information included in contact, enquiry or quotation forms.
• Photographs, plans, documents or other information you choose to provide in connection with an enquiry or project.
• Records of communications between you and us.
• Information reasonably required to arrange, deliver or administer our services.

Information generated when you use the website

Depending on the technologies enabled on the website, technical information may also be generated or collected. This can include IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, referring pages, pages visited, approximate location derived from technical information, cookie identifiers and website interaction information.

Some of this information may constitute personal information where it identifies you directly or can reasonably be linked to you.

How We Collect Information

We may receive personal information when you:

• Submit a contact, enquiry, quotation or estimate form.
• Contact us by telephone or email.
• Request information about one of our services.
• Ask us to provide a quotation, survey, installation, repair or service.
• Provide information, documents or photographs relating to a property or proposed job.
• Interact with third-party quotation, calculation, booking or enquiry systems made available through or linked from our website.
• Use our website where cookies, server logs or other permitted technologies collect technical information.

We may also receive information from another person involved in a project, such as a property owner, contractor, builder, landlord, managing agent or other relevant party, where there is an appropriate reason for them to provide it.

How and Why We Use Your Information

We may process personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries and requests for information.
• Discuss your requirements.
• Prepare quotations or estimates.
• Take steps requested by you before entering into a contract.
• Arrange surveys, appointments, installations, servicing or repair work.
• Provide and administer contracted services.
• Communicate with customers about ongoing or completed work.
• Maintain appropriate business, accounting and service records.
• Deal with warranties, complaints, enquiries or follow-up work.
• Protect our website, systems, customers and business against misuse, fraud and security threats.
• Understand and, where lawfully permitted, improve website performance and customer experience.
• Comply with legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other obligations.
• Establish, exercise or defend legal claims where necessary.
• Send marketing communications where we have a lawful basis and comply with applicable electronic-marketing rules.

We do not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the reason it was collected unless the law permits or requires us to do so.

Our Lawful Bases for Processing

UK data protection law requires a lawful basis for processing personal information. The appropriate basis depends on the particular purpose and circumstances.

Other lawful bases may apply where permitted by UK data protection legislation and appropriate to the specific circumstances.

Cookies & Similar Technologies

Cookies are small pieces of information stored on, or accessed from, a device when you use a website. Websites can also use other technologies that store information on or access information from a user's device. In this section, references to cookies include similar technologies where appropriate.

Cookies can perform different functions, including enabling website functionality, remembering preferences, measuring website use and supporting advertising.

Consent for non-essential technologies

Where UK law requires consent for a cookie or similar technology, the relevant technology should not be used until the required consent has been obtained.

Consent should be based on a clear choice. Visitors should also be able to refuse non-essential technologies and withdraw or change their choices as required by applicable law.

Managing cookies

Where a cookie-preference or consent tool is available on the website, you can use it to manage the categories it controls. You can also use your browser settings to delete or restrict cookies. Blocking some technologies may affect the way certain website features operate.

Analytics & Google Services

Our website may use or link to Google services. The particular services in use can change as the website develops.

Where enabled, these may include services such as:

• Google Analytics for website measurement and analytics.
• Google Tag Manager for managing website tags and integrations.
• Google Search Console for understanding the website's presence in Google Search.
• Google Maps for displaying maps or location-related content.
• Google Business Profile or Google review links.
• Google Ads or related advertising and conversion-measurement services if advertising is used.

Some Google services may process technical information about a user's device, browser or interaction with the website. The information processed and the applicable legal requirements depend on the particular Google service and configuration being used.

Where Google Analytics, advertising tags or other non-exempt storage/access technologies require consent under UK law, appropriate consent controls should be configured before those technologies are used.

Google Consent Mode

If Google Consent Mode is implemented, it may be used to communicate a visitor's consent choices to compatible Google tags so that those tags can adapt their behaviour. Consent Mode is not itself a consent banner and does not replace the need for an appropriate mechanism for obtaining and managing consent where one is legally required.

Google services are subject to Google's own privacy terms and controls. Visitors can review information provided by Google about how its services process data through Google's privacy resources.

Who We Share Information With

We do not sell personal information.

We may, however, need to provide personal information to organisations or people that help us operate the business, provide services or meet legal obligations.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include:

• Website hosting and technical service providers.
• Email and communications providers.
• Customer relationship management or business administration systems.
• Quotation, enquiry, estimate or booking platforms.
• Heat-loss, heating-design, air-conditioning or property-assessment systems where used as part of an enquiry or service.
• Cloud storage, IT and cybersecurity providers.
• Analytics and website service providers where enabled.
• Contractors, suppliers or other parties involved in delivering requested work where information is reasonably required.
• Accountants, insurers, legal advisers and other professional advisers.
• Government bodies, regulators, law-enforcement agencies, courts or other authorities where disclosure is required or permitted by law.

Where another organisation processes personal information on our behalf as a processor, we seek to use appropriate arrangements designed to protect that information and limit processing to authorised purposes.

In some circumstances another organisation may act as an independent data controller and will process information under its own privacy terms.

International Data Transfers

Some technology, hosting, communications, analytics or other service providers may process or make personal information accessible outside the United Kingdom.

Where our use of a provider involves a restricted transfer of personal information outside the UK, we will take steps required by applicable UK data protection law.

Depending on the destination and circumstances, this may include relying on applicable UK adequacy regulations, appropriate contractual safeguards such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or UK Addendum, or another legally permitted transfer mechanism.

Where required, relevant transfer risks and protections should also be considered as part of the applicable transfer mechanism.

How Long We Keep Information

We do not aim to keep personal information for longer than reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, subject to any legal, regulatory, contractual, accounting, insurance, warranty or dispute-related requirements that apply.

Different types of information may therefore be retained for different periods.

When deciding an appropriate retention period, relevant factors may include:

• The nature and sensitivity of the information.
• The purpose for which it was collected.
• Whether an enquiry becomes a customer relationship or contracted project.
• Warranty, servicing or installation-record requirements.
• Tax, accounting and other legal record-keeping obligations.
• Health and safety, certification or regulatory requirements where relevant.
• The possibility of a complaint, dispute or legal claim.
• Whether we can achieve the relevant purpose using less information.

Information that is no longer required should be deleted, anonymised or otherwise handled in accordance with our applicable retention practices.

How We Protect Information

We take the security of personal information seriously and use appropriate organisational and technical measures designed to protect information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss or destruction.

Measures will depend on the nature of the information, the systems being used and the risks involved. They may include access controls, account security, secure website connections, software updates, backups and the use of reputable service providers.

No internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We therefore cannot promise absolute security, but we take reasonable steps appropriate to the risks involved.

Marketing Communications

We may contact customers or prospective customers about relevant services where we have an appropriate lawful basis and the communication is permitted by applicable privacy and electronic-marketing rules.

Where consent is required for a particular form of electronic marketing, we will rely on the relevant consent before sending it.

Where the law permits another basis or an applicable marketing rule to be used, we will consider the circumstances and your rights before doing so.

You can ask us to stop sending direct marketing communications at any time by using any unsubscribe method provided in the communication or by contacting us at info@clerenewableenergy.com.

An objection to direct marketing will not prevent us from sending necessary service or administrative communications relating to an existing enquiry, appointment, contract, installation or other legitimate customer matter.

Third-Party Links & Embedded Content

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services, including quotation tools, review platforms, maps, manufacturers, finance or grant information, social platforms or other relevant online services.

Third-party websites operate independently from us and may have their own privacy policies, cookie practices and terms. We recommend reviewing those policies when using an external service.

Some website content may also be embedded from third-party services. Depending on how an embed is configured, the third party may receive technical information or use storage/access technologies when the content is loaded or used.

Where consent is legally required before a non-essential third-party technology is activated, the website should use appropriate consent controls.

Your Data Protection Rights

UK data protection law gives individuals a number of rights. Which rights apply can depend on the circumstances and the lawful basis being used.

These rights are subject to the conditions, limitations and exemptions contained in applicable data protection law.

To make a privacy request, contact info@clerenewableenergy.com. We may need to request reasonable information to verify your identity before acting on a request.

Children's Privacy

Our website and services are aimed primarily at adults seeking property, heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing or renewable-energy services. They are not designed as online services specifically for children.

We do not intentionally seek to collect children's personal information through ordinary website enquiries where it is unnecessary to provide our services.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to us unnecessarily, please contact us so that we can review the circumstances and take appropriate action.

Automated Decision-Making & Profiling

We do not currently intend ordinary website enquiries to be subject to solely automated decision-making that produces legal effects, or similarly significant effects, for the individual.

Online calculators, quotation tools or assessment systems may automate calculations or provide indicative outputs where such tools are made available. An automated estimate or calculation does not necessarily amount to automated decision-making of the type specifically regulated by UK data protection law.

If our use of automated decision-making changes in a way that requires additional information to be provided under data protection law, this policy should be updated accordingly.

Complaints & the ICO

If you have a concern about how we have handled your personal information, please contact us first so that we have an opportunity to investigate and respond.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.

Current information about data protection rights and how to make a complaint is available from the ICO at ico.org.uk.

You are not required to contact us before exercising your right to complain to the ICO.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, business practices, service providers, technology or legal and regulatory requirements.

When the policy is materially updated, the “Last updated” date at the top of this page should also be changed.

We recommend reviewing this page periodically if you want to stay informed about how personal information is handled.

Contact Us About Privacy

If you have a question about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise a data protection right or have a concern about the way your personal information has been handled, please contact us.