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 installment includes market leaders and topics related to accelerating a fair and simply shift to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are thriving 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 search for chances to serve others– be it by providing extraordinary customer care, language translations, or merely sharing knowledge 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 companys objective is simple: we desire to make solar easy and economical every step of the method. We mostly serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and embrace sustainable energy as a lifestyle, helping generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey towards establishing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha moment” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my organization partner and I had the opportunity to sign up with a really promising small solar setup company in Houston. Through this work we saw the chance available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) neighborhood. As a result, my partner and I integrated his experience in offering to the Hispanic market with my client service expertise to create SUNTEX where “the consumer is the factor we exist as a business”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic neighborhood and our customers with outstanding customer care.
Why is concentrating on the Hispanic neighborhood a top priority for SUNTEX?
Number One: it remains in our blood. My business partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can determine well with our individuals and their worldview. Number Two: in the past, we have actually personally experienced a lack of care and interaction from those that can not relate to our culture. We understood that solar benefits everybody, despite race or background, which our individuals would require a great deal of assistance to understand how to acquire this advantage for their houses.
What obstacles do you deal with? Why?
Being a little business with a high level of service expectations for our consumers includes its own set of challenges. However, the greatest challenge we face is shared by a variety of small businesses: turnover. In addition, despite the fact that solar power has been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not extensively taught in school. We have to invest a lot quantity of time training sales staff to make sure they are able to offer a high level of client service.
How are you making an effect through SUNTEX?
By just living up to our truthful worths. I have learned throughout my life that in business, there is no other method to do it best but to be sincere. While others might take faster ways, the fact constantly dominates.
Please show us a recent company success story.
Just recently, after helping a customer “go solar” in two of her houses, she referred a new customer named Angela to us. During our initial visit, I noted that they might just accomplish about 56% of solar power offset due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the home. We went over a couple of extra energy efficiency upgrades to the home to lower energy consumption, which could supply a higher energy offset. Angela initially flinched at the thought of investing more money into the home, but eventually she called me back and said she wanted to move on with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades. We completed a Home Energy Audit to see why her usage was so high and discovered that her home needed a larger a/c unit, plus additional ducts to disperse the AC equally throughout your home. We also told her that the financing partner could add the expense of that upgrade to the solar loan– which in doing so, she could receive a lower rate of interest than any other home improvement loan for that a/c upgrade. She took my suggestions and chose to move on and was, in fact, able to reduce her loan rate of interest.
Throughout the setup, we wound up spending for Angela and her elderly mother to stay in a hotel until their upgrades and examinations were total to ensure they were comfy throughout the process.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electrical energy used in her home. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have minimized their energy intake considerably, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we indicate by “client service.”
From a nationwide perspective, how can we enhance access to sustainable enery?
Most of the property owners that we visit are fortunate to own a home, yet many of them have actually not qualified for solar due to numerous combined or isolated factors such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly home income, self-employment, or a lack of knowledge of available loan programs. We need to supply more people with chances to adopt sustainable energy with fewer inconveniences.
How has your Accelerate membership helped your business?
By empowering us to believe that there is somebody there to support our development in this market, and giving us the chance to fulfill others in the exact same boat. Now I understand that there is expect minority small companies in the eco-friendly energy market.
How can potential partners work with you?
It is very important that we share the same worths and mission to assist others, even if it implies leaving our comfort zones. It may cost a little bit more for us to do service, however its worth it in the end for our customers. We d love to satisfy to discuss possible partnership opportunities if youre willing to start there.
Is there anything else you want to show ACORE members and partners?
We are truly grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the opportunities you have actually offered. I understand this is just the start, and we have a long road ahead of us; nevertheless, I anticipate becoming a sponsor to help lead the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with an unique thanks to all of my customers and partners at SUNTEX, because they are the fuel that drives the objective!
For more information about SUNTEX, check out https://suntexllc.com/.
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Additionally, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the basics of these jobs are not commonly taught in school. Throughout our preliminary consultation, I noted that they might just attain about 56% of solar energy offset due to their houses usage rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We went over a couple of additional energy performance upgrades to the house to minimize energy intake, which might offer a higher energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the idea of investing more cash into the house, but eventually she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy performance upgrades. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have decreased their energy usage significantly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to setting up solar.