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 site series.
Each installation features market leaders and topics associated with speeding up a fair and just shift to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are growing in the renewable resource sector.
What inspired you to start SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I constantly set high expectations for myself and always search for opportunities to serve others– be it by supplying exceptional customer support, language translations, or merely sharing knowledge with others. My personal objectives and desire to assist others led me to operate in the renewable energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a larger scale.
Tell us about SUNTEX?
Our companys objective is easy: we want to make solar simple and economical every step of the way. We mostly serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– assist Spanish speakers understand and embrace sustainable energy as a lifestyle, assisting generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey towards establishing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha minute” when you decided to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my organization partner and I had the chance to join a very appealing small solar installation 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 combined his experience in selling to the Hispanic market with my client service expertise to develop SUNTEX where “the consumer is the reason we exist as a business”. Our focus is linking the Hispanic community and our consumers with exceptional customer service.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic neighborhood a concern for SUNTEX?
Primary: it remains in our blood. My business partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can recognize well with our people and their worldview. Number Two: in the past, we have personally experienced an absence of care and communication from those that can not relate to our culture. We understood that solar advantages everyone, despite race or background, and that our individuals would need a lot of support to comprehend how to get this advantage for their houses.
What difficulties do you deal with? Why?
Being a little business with a high level of service expectations for our consumers comes with its own set of challenges. Additionally, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the basics of these tasks are not widely taught in school.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By just measuring up to our truthful values. I have actually learned throughout my life that in service, there is no other method to do it best but to be sincere. While others may take shortcuts, the reality always prevails.
Please show us a recent business success story.
Just recently, after assisting a client “go solar” in 2 of her houses, she referred a brand-new customer named Angela to us. During our preliminary consultation, I kept in mind that they might just accomplish about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the property. We talked about a few additional energy performance upgrades to your home to lower energy consumption, which could offer a higher energy balanced out. Angela at first flinched at the idea of investing more money into the house, however ultimately she called me back and said she wished to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. We finished a Home Energy Audit to see why her use was so high and found that her house needed a larger a/c unit, plus extra ducts to disperse the a/c uniformly throughout your home. We likewise told her that the finance partner might include the expense of that upgrade to the solar loan– and that in doing so, she could certify for a lower rate of interest than any other home enhancement loan for that a/c upgrade. She took my suggestions and chose to progress and was, in truth, able to decrease her loan interest rate.
During the installation, we ended up spending for Angela and her senior mother to remain in a hotel up until their assessments and upgrades were total to ensure they were comfortable throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electrical power utilized in her home. Thanks to the air conditioner upgrade, they have minimized their energy usage significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to setting up solar. This is what we indicate by “customer support.”
From a nationwide point of view, how can we enhance access to eco-friendly enery?
Many of the property owners that we check out are fortunate to own a home, yet numerous of them have not qualified for solar due to numerous combined or isolated aspects such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly household earnings, self-employment, or an absence of knowledge of available loan programs. We need to supply more people with chances to adopt renewable energy with less troubles.
How has your Accelerate subscription assisted your service?
By empowering us to think that there is someone there to support our growth in this market, and giving us the chance to fulfill others in the exact same boat. Now I understand that there is hope for minority small companies in the renewable resource market.
How can possible partners work with you?
It is very important that we share the same worths and objective to assist others, even if it indicates getting out of our convenience zones. It may cost a little more for us to do service, but its worth it in the end for our customers. We d like to meet to go over possible collaboration chances if youre willing to start there.
Exists anything else you would like to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are genuinely grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the chances you have supplied. I understand this is just the beginning, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; however, I eagerly anticipate ending up being a sponsor to help pave the method for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my customers and partners at SUNTEX, because they are the fuel that drives the objective!
To read more about SUNTEX, go to https://suntexllc.com/.
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Furthermore, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the fundamentals of these jobs are not extensively taught in school. During our initial appointment, I noted that they could just attain about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes usage rates and shading from trees on the home. We discussed a few additional energy efficiency upgrades to the home to decrease energy consumption, which might supply a greater energy balanced out. Angela initially cringed at the thought of investing more money into the home, but ultimately she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades. Thanks to the Air conditioner upgrade, they have lowered their energy intake greatly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to setting up solar.