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

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 16, 2021

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the fourth installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installment features industry leaders and topics connected to speeding up an equitable and just transition to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are thriving in the renewable resource sector.
What inspired you to begin SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I always set high expectations for myself and always try to find opportunities to serve others– be it by supplying extraordinary client service, language translations, or merely sharing understanding with others. My individual objectives and desire to help others led me to work in the eco-friendly energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Inform us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss objective is easy: we want to make solar easy and cost effective every step of the way. We mainly serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and adopt eco-friendly energy as a way of life, helping generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey towards establishing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha moment” when you chose to concentrate on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my organization partner and I had the opportunity to join an extremely promising little solar setup company in Houston. Through this work we saw the chance offered to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community.
Why is concentrating on the Hispanic community a concern for SUNTEX?
Number Two: in the past, we have personally experienced a lack of care and interaction from those that can not recognize with our culture. We knew that solar advantages everybody, regardless of race or background, and that our people would need a lot of support to comprehend how to acquire this benefit for their houses.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
Being a small company with a high level of service expectations for our clients comes with its own set of difficulties. The biggest obstacle we deal with is shared by a number of little organizations: turnover. Furthermore, although solar power has been around for a while, the essentials of these tasks are not extensively taught in school. So, we have to invest a lot amount of time training sales staff to ensure they have the ability to offer a high level of client service.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By just measuring up to our honest values. I have discovered throughout my life that in service, there is no other method to do it ideal but to be truthful. While others may take shortcuts, the truth always prevails.
Please show us a current company success story.
Just recently, after assisting a client “go solar” in two of her houses, she referred a new customer called Angela to us. Throughout our preliminary appointment, I kept in mind that they could only achieve about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes intake rates and shading from trees on the property. We went over a few additional energy effectiveness upgrades to your home to decrease energy intake, which could provide a greater energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the thought of investing more cash into the house, however eventually she called me back and said she wished to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. We completed a Home Energy Audit to see why her usage was so high and discovered that her house required a bigger AC system, plus additional ducts to distribute the a/c uniformly throughout your house. We likewise informed her that the finance partner might add the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– which in doing so, she might get approved for a lower rates of interest than any other house improvement loan for that air conditioner upgrade. She took my suggestions and decided to move on and was, in reality, able to minimize her loan rates of interest.
During the installation, we wound up spending for Angela and her senior mom to remain in a hotel up until their upgrades and evaluations were total to guarantee they were comfy throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electrical energy used in her house. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have reduced their energy intake considerably, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we indicate by “client service.”
From a national point of view, how can we enhance access to renewable enery?
Many of the house owners that we visit are fortunate to own a home, yet numerous of them have not certified for solar due to a number of combined or separated aspects such as subprime credit score, lower annual home earnings, self-employment, or a lack of understanding of available loan programs. We need to offer more individuals with opportunities to adopt sustainable energy with less hassles.
How has your Accelerate subscription assisted your organization?
By empowering us to believe that there is somebody there to support our development in this industry, and providing us the opportunity to meet others in the same boat. Now I understand that there is expect minority small companies in the renewable resource industry.
How can possible partners work with you?
It is necessary that we share the very same worths and objective to assist others, even if it indicates leaving our comfort zones. It may cost a little bit more for us to do business, however its worth it in the end for our consumers. If youre willing to begin there, we d enjoy to satisfy to go over possible partnership chances.
Exists anything else you would like to show ACORE members and partners?
We are really grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the opportunities you have offered. I know this is just the start, and we have a long road ahead of us; nevertheless, I eagerly anticipate ending up being a sponsor to assist pave the method for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my clients and partners at SUNTEX, considering that they are the fuel that drives the objective!
To read more about SUNTEX, go to https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not widely taught in school. During our initial consultation, I noted that they could just achieve about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their houses consumption rates and shading from trees on the property. We talked about a few additional energy effectiveness upgrades to the house to reduce energy consumption, which could provide a higher energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the idea of investing more money into the house, however eventually she called me back and stated she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades. Thanks to the Air conditioning upgrade, they have actually lowered their energy consumption significantly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to setting up solar.