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 fourth installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installment includes industry leaders and topics related to speeding up an equitable and simply shift to a sustainable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are flourishing in the sustainable energy sector.
What inspired you to start SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I constantly set high expectations for myself and always try to find chances to serve others– be it by supplying extraordinary client service, language translations, or merely sharing understanding with others. My personal objectives and desire to assist others led me to operate in the sustainable energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a larger scale.
Tell us about SUNTEX?
Our companys objective is basic: we wish to make solar easy and economical every action of the way. We largely serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and embrace sustainable energy as a way of living, assisting generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey towards establishing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha minute” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my business partner and I had the chance to sign up with a really promising small solar setup business in Houston. Through this work we saw the chance offered to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) neighborhood. As a result, my partner and I integrated his experience in selling to the Hispanic market with my customer service proficiency to develop SUNTEX where “the consumer is the reason we exist as a business”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic neighborhood and our clients with outstanding customer support.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic neighborhood a top priority for SUNTEX?
Top: it remains in our blood. My service 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 actually personally experienced an absence of care and communication from those that can not relate to our culture. We understood that solar benefits everybody, no matter race or background, which our individuals would need a great deal of assistance to understand how to get this benefit for their homes.
What challenges do you face? Why?
Being a little company with a high level of service expectations for our customers includes its own set of challenges. However, the biggest obstacle we face is shared by a number of little companies: turnover. Furthermore, despite the fact that solar energy has been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not widely taught in school. So, we have to spend a lot amount of time training sales staff to ensure they are able to offer a high level of customer care.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By simply living up to our honest values. I have actually discovered throughout my life that in organization, there is no other method to do it right however to be sincere. While others might take faster ways, the fact constantly prevails.
Please show us a recent business success story.
Just recently, after assisting a client “go solar” in 2 of her homes, she referred a brand-new customer named Angela to us. Throughout our initial consultation, I noted that they could just achieve about 56% of solar energy offset due to their houses consumption rates and shading from trees on the home. We talked about a couple of extra energy effectiveness upgrades to your house to lower energy usage, which might supply a higher energy balanced out. Angela initially winced at the idea of investing more money into the house, but ultimately she called me back and said she desired 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 Air Conditioning unit, plus additional ducts to disperse the Air Conditioning equally throughout your house. We likewise informed her that the financing partner could add the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– and that in doing so, she could get approved for a lower interest rate than any other house improvement loan for that Air Conditioner upgrade. She took my advice and decided to move forward and was, in truth, able to decrease her loan interest rate.
Throughout the setup, we wound up spending for Angela and her elderly mother to remain in a hotel until their assessments and upgrades were total to guarantee they were comfy throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electricity used in her house. Thanks to the A/C upgrade, they have actually lowered their energy consumption significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we suggest by “customer care.”
From a nationwide point of view, how can we enhance access to sustainable enery?
Most of the property owners that we go to are fortunate to own a house, yet numerous of them have not qualified for solar due to a number of combined or separated elements such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly home earnings, self-employment, or an absence of understanding of readily available loan programs. We require to supply more people with chances to embrace sustainable energy with less hassles.
How has your Accelerate subscription helped your company?
By empowering us to think that there is someone there to support our development in this market, and giving us the chance to meet others in the exact same boat. Now I know that there is hope for minority small companies in the eco-friendly energy industry.
How can possible partners work with you?
It is necessary that we share the same worths and mission to assist others, even if it implies leaving our comfort zones. It might cost a little bit more for us to do organization, however its worth it in the end for our customers. If youre prepared to begin there, we d enjoy to satisfy to discuss possible collaboration chances.
Is there anything else you want to show ACORE members and partners?
We are really grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the opportunities you have actually supplied. I know this is only the start, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; however, I look forward to 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 partners at SUNTEX, since they are the fuel that drives the objective!
To find out more about SUNTEX, see https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the basics of these jobs are not commonly taught in school. During our preliminary consultation, I noted that they could only accomplish about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the home. We went over a few additional energy performance upgrades to the house to reduce energy consumption, which might supply a higher energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the thought of investing more cash into the house, however ultimately she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have actually decreased their energy usage greatly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to installing solar.