Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Ally Mendoza, CEO of SUNTEX

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 16, 2021

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is pleased to share the 4th installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installation includes industry leaders and topics connected to accelerating a fair and just transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are flourishing in the renewable energy sector.
What inspired you to start SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I constantly set high expectations for myself and constantly try to find chances to serve others– be it by offering extraordinary client service, language translations, or simply sharing knowledge with others. My personal goals and desire to assist others led me to operate in the renewable resource sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Inform us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss objective is simple: we desire to make solar easy and economical every action of the way. We mostly serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and embrace renewable resource as a lifestyle, helping generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey toward developing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha moment” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my organization partner and I had the chance to join a very appealing small solar setup business in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity readily available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) neighborhood.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic community a priority for SUNTEX?
Primary: it is in our blood. My organization partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can determine well with our people and their worldview. Number Two: in the past, we have personally experienced an absence of care and interaction from those that can not relate to our culture. We understood that solar benefits everybody, no matter race or background, which our people would require a lot of assistance to understand how to acquire this advantage for their homes.
What challenges do you face? Why?
Being a small business with a high level of service expectations for our customers includes its own set of obstacles. However, the biggest challenge we face is shared by a variety of small organizations: turnover. Additionally, although solar energy has been around for a while, the essentials of these jobs are not extensively taught in school. So, we need to invest a lot amount of time training sales personnel to make sure they are able to offer a high level of consumer service.
How are you making an effect through SUNTEX?
By just living up to our honest worths. I have discovered throughout my life that in service, there is no other way to do it ideal however to be sincere. While others might take shortcuts, the fact constantly prevails.
Please show us a current company success story.
Throughout our preliminary visit, I kept in mind that they might only achieve about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We talked about a couple of extra energy performance upgrades to the home to reduce energy consumption, which might supply a higher energy balanced out. Angela at first cringed at the thought of investing more cash into the house, but ultimately she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades.
Throughout the installation, we ended up paying for Angela and her elderly mother to stay in a hotel until their examinations and upgrades were complete to ensure they were comfy throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electrical power used in her house. Thanks to the Air Conditioning upgrade, they have actually minimized their energy consumption considerably, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we imply by “customer care.”
From a nationwide viewpoint, how can we enhance access to renewable enery?
From my experience, there is a vast space in gain access to. Many of the house owners that we check out are lucky to own a house, yet a lot of them have actually not qualified for solar due to numerous combined or separated elements such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly family income, self-employment, or a lack of knowledge of readily available loan programs. These communities require more support and education on the significance of installing a solar system that can conserve them cash. We require to provide more individuals with opportunities to adopt eco-friendly energy with fewer troubles.
How has your Accelerate subscription assisted your company?
By empowering us to believe that there is someone there to support our development in this market, and giving us the opportunity to satisfy others in the exact same boat. Now I know that there is hope for minority little services in the renewable resource industry.
How can potential partners work with you?
It is very important that we share the same values and mission to help others, even if it means leaving our convenience zones. It might cost a bit more for us to do service, however its worth it in the end for our clients. We d enjoy to meet to discuss possible partnership opportunities if youre prepared to begin there.
Exists anything else you want to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are really grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the chances you have actually provided. I understand this is just the beginning, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; however, I anticipate becoming a sponsor to assist pave the method for other Accelerate members in the future– with an unique thanks to all of my consumers and collaborators at SUNTEX, considering that they are the fuel that drives the objective!
To find out more about SUNTEX, go to https://suntexllc.com/.
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Furthermore, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the basics of these jobs are not commonly taught in school. Throughout our initial visit, I kept in mind that they could just attain about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes intake rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We went over a couple of extra energy effectiveness upgrades to the home to lower energy usage, which might offer a higher energy balanced out. Angela at first winced at the thought of investing more money into the home, however eventually she called me back and stated she desired to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. Thanks to the A/C upgrade, they have actually minimized their energy intake considerably, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to setting up solar.