Privacy Policy | Midwest AEC

Midwest AEC ("we," "our," or "us") operates the website located at https://midwestaec.com. This Privacy Policy outlines our transparent policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our website, as well as the choices you have associated with that data.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in several ways to provide and improve our educational building science content and contractor connection services:

A. Information You Provide Directly

When you submit an email inquiry, subscribe to specification updates, or complete a contractor quote request form, you may provide personally identifiable information, such as your:

First and last name
Email address
Phone number
Postal code / ZIP code and city/state
Project details (e.g., roof type, HVAC replacement needs, square footage)

B. Automatically Collected Technical & Log Data

Like most digital publications, our servers and analytics providers automatically record information that your browser sends whenever you visit Midwest AEC. This may include:

Internet Protocol (IP) address
Browser type and version
Operating system
Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring website addresses
Date and timestamp of your visits

2. Cookies, Beacons & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to monitor activity on our website and hold certain information to enhance your browsing experience.

Essential Cookies: Required to operate website functionality, remember preferences, and maintain security.
Analytics Cookies: Help us measure readership engagement, popular building science articles, and traffic sources.
Affiliate Attribution Cookies: When you click on outbound referral links or contractor request buttons, our affiliate partners (such as Modernize Home Services, Networx, and partner networks) place tracking cookies on your device. These cookies do not store personally identifiable information; they simply record that your click originated from Midwest AEC so we may receive credit if you choose to request a contractor quote.

You can configure your browser to reject all cookies or alert you when a cookie is placed. However, some portions of the site may function with reduced interactivity if cookies are disabled.

3. Third-Party Lead Generation & Contractor Networks

Midwest AEC partners with established home improvement lead generation networks, including Modernize and Networx, to connect homeowners with licensed, vetted local trades.

Important Notice on Contractor Requests: When you voluntarily submit a project inquiry or request an estimate through our quote cards or partner widgets, the information you submit (including contact info, ZIP code, and project scope) is transmitted directly to our authorized third-party partner network. That network securely routes your inquiry to licensed local contractors serving your ZIP code who can fulfill your estimate.

Please review the privacy policies of our partner networks (Modernize Privacy Policy and Networx Privacy Policy) to understand their specific data retention and communication protocols.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use collected data solely for legitimate business purposes:

To deliver, maintain, and improve our building science editorial content.
To connect you with qualified local contractors when you explicitly request an estimate.
To monitor traffic patterns, prevent fraud, and ensure server stability.
To respond to your questions, feedback, or topic suggestions.

5. California Privacy Rights (CCPA / CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) grant you specific rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Know: You may request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal data we have collected about you over the preceding 12 months.
Right to Delete: You may request deletion of personal information we have collected directly from you.
Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing: Midwest AEC does not sell personal information for monetary compensation. However, data shared with affiliate networks for attribution may be considered "sharing" under California law. You may opt out of third-party tracking by utilizing browser privacy controls (Global Privacy Control) or contacting us.
Non-Discrimination: We will never discriminate against you, deny access, or alter your user experience for exercising your privacy rights.

6. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Midwest AEC is an architectural and building science publication intended for adult homeowners, builders, and industry professionals. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 13 years of age. If we discover that personal data from a child under 13 has been submitted, we will immediately delete that information.

7. Data Security

The security of your data is paramount. All traffic to Midwest AEC is encrypted in transit using industry-standard Transport Layer Security (TLS/HTTPS). While no method of digital transmission or electronic storage is 100% impenetrable, we enforce strict access boundaries and best practices to safeguard any data we process.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our operational practices, new affiliate partnerships, or evolving regulatory requirements. Any updates will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" timestamp at the top.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions, comments, or data rights requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Midwest AEC Editorial & Compliance

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://midwestaec.com