Fuel Poverty Europe (“we,” “our,” or “us”) uses cookies and similar technologies on this website to enhance user experience, analyze website performance, and support our nonprofit mission to address energy poverty across Europe.
This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, and how you can manage your preferences.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help websites function efficiently, recognize returning visitors, and gather analytics to improve user experience.
Cookies may be:
- Session cookies — deleted automatically when you close your browser.
- Persistent cookies — stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted.
- First-party cookies — set directly by our website.
- Third-party cookies — set by services integrated into our site (e.g., analytics or social media platforms).
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
a. Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)
These cookies are required for the website to function properly. They enable features such as:
- Secure login or form submissions
- Site security and performance optimization
- Language or accessibility settings
Example: Session management, content delivery, or CSRF protection. You cannot disable these cookies through our cookie banner because the website cannot operate without them.
b. Analytical and Performance Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our site by collecting anonymous data about:
- Pages visited
- Time spent on each page
- Click patterns and navigation paths
- Device and browser types
We use this information to improve content, usability, and outreach. Common tools include Google Analytics, Matomo, or other GDPR-compliant platforms. No personally identifiable information (PII) is stored in these cookies.
c. Preference Cookies
Preference cookies remember your settings and choices—such as:
- Language preferences
- Cookie consent selections
- Form autofill options
These help personalize your browsing experience on return visits.
d. Functional and Third-Party Cookies
These cookies may come from embedded content or integrations, including:
- Social media sharing tools (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
- Embedded videos or maps (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, Google Maps)
- Newsletter signup or donation platforms
These third parties may collect data independently, in accordance with their own privacy policies.
Fuel Poverty Europe has no control over third-party cookies once they are set.
3. Cookies We May Use
| Cookie Type | Provider | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
PHPSESSID | fuelpoverty.eu | Maintains session state and site functionality | Session |
_ga, _gid | Google Analytics | Tracks visitor behavior and traffic patterns | 1–2 years |
_pk_id, _pk_ses | Matomo Analytics | Collects anonymized site usage data | 13 months |
cookie_consent_status | fuelpoverty.eu | Remembers user cookie preferences | 6 months |
YSC, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | YouTube | Enables embedded video playback | Varies |
IDE | Google Ads (if used) | Measures ad performance | 13 months |
Note: Actual cookies in use may vary based on tools active on the website.
4. Cookie Consent and Control
When you visit fuelpoverty.eu for the first time, a cookie consent banner will appear.
You can:
- Accept all cookies
- Reject non-essential cookies
- Customize your cookie preferences
Your selection will be stored for future visits, and you can change or withdraw consent anytime by clicking “Cookie Settings” in the footer or banner.
5. Managing Cookies in Your Browser
You can also control or delete cookies through your browser settings.
Below are links for common browsers:
Please note that disabling cookies may affect website performance or limit access to certain features.
6. Third-Party Tools and Data Transfers
Some cookies may involve the transfer of data to third-party services outside the EU/EEA.
When this occurs, Fuel Poverty Europe ensures that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:
- Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
- Adequacy decisions by the European Commission
- Anonymization or IP masking features (e.g., Google Analytics IP anonymization)
7. Updates to This Cookie Policy
We may revise this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect legal requirements or website changes. Any updates will be published on this page with an updated Effective Date. We encourage you to check this policy periodically.
8. Contact Us
For questions or concerns about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact:
Fuel Poverty Europe