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

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 16, 2021

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is happy to share the 4th installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installment includes market leaders and topics related to 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 companies are flourishing in the renewable resource sector.
What inspired you to begin SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I always set high expectations for myself and constantly search for chances to serve others– be it by providing extraordinary customer care, language translations, or simply sharing understanding with others. My personal goals and desire to assist others led me to work in the eco-friendly energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Tell us about SUNTEX?
Our companys objective is basic: we want to make solar simple and affordable every step of the method. We mainly serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– assist Spanish speakers comprehend and adopt eco-friendly energy as a way of living, helping generations to come.
Please share with 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 company partner and I had the chance to join a very promising little solar setup business 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 customer care expertise to develop SUNTEX where “the customer is the reason we exist as a company”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic community and our customers with excellent customer support.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic community a concern for SUNTEX?
Top: it is in our blood. My company partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can recognize well with our individuals and their worldview. Second: 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, despite race or background, which our individuals would require a lot of assistance to comprehend how to obtain this advantage for their homes.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
Being a small company with a high level of service expectations for our clients comes with its own set of challenges. The biggest obstacle we face is shared by a number of little services: turnover. Furthermore, despite the fact that solar energy has been around for a while, the basics of these jobs are not widely taught in school. So, we need to invest a lot quantity of time training sales personnel to ensure they are able to offer a high level of customer care.
How are you making an effect through SUNTEX?
By just measuring up to our sincere worths. I have discovered throughout my life that in company, there is no other method to do it ideal but to be truthful. While others may take faster ways, the reality always prevails.
Please show us a recent company success story.
Recently, after assisting a client “go solar” in two of her houses, she referred a brand-new client named Angela to us. Throughout our preliminary consultation, I kept in mind that they could just achieve about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We went over a couple of extra energy efficiency upgrades to your home to minimize energy consumption, which might provide a greater energy balanced out. Angela initially flinched at the thought of investing more money into the house, but eventually she called me back and stated she wanted to progress with the solar and energy performance upgrades. We finished a Home Energy Audit to see why her usage was so high and discovered that her house needed a bigger AC system, plus extra ducts to disperse the air conditioner evenly throughout your house. We likewise informed her that the finance partner could include the expense of that upgrade to the solar loan– and that in doing so, she could certify for a lower interest rate than any other house improvement loan for that a/c upgrade. She took my advice and decided to move forward and was, in reality, able to reduce her loan interest rate.
Throughout the setup, we ended up paying for Angela and her elderly mother to remain in a hotel till their assessments and upgrades were total to guarantee they were comfortable throughout the process.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electrical energy utilized in her house. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have actually minimized their energy intake greatly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying prior to installing solar. This is what we suggest by “customer care.”
From a nationwide perspective, how can we improve access to eco-friendly enery?
Many of the property owners that we go to are fortunate to own a house, yet many of them have actually not certified for solar due to a number of combined or separated factors such as subprime credit score, lower yearly family earnings, self-employment, or an absence of understanding of readily available loan programs. We require to supply more people with opportunities to adopt renewable energy with fewer hassles.
How has your Accelerate membership assisted your organization?
By empowering us to believe that there is somebody there to support our growth in this market, and providing us the chance to fulfill others in the very same boat. Now I know that there is wish for minority small companies in the renewable energy market.
How can prospective partners work with you?
It is very important that we share the very same worths and mission to assist others, even if it means getting out of our convenience zones. It might cost a little more for us to do business, but its worth it in the end for our customers. If youre ready to begin there, we d love to fulfill to talk about possible cooperation opportunities.
Is there anything else you wish to show ACORE members and partners?
We are really grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the chances you have offered. I understand this is just the start, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; however, I eagerly anticipate ending up being a sponsor to help pave the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my customers and collaborators at SUNTEX, given that they are the fuel that drives the mission!
To find out more about SUNTEX, check out https://suntexllc.com/.
###

Furthermore, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not commonly taught in school. Throughout our initial consultation, I kept in mind that they might just attain about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the home. We talked about a couple of extra energy effectiveness upgrades to the house to lower energy consumption, which could provide a higher energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the idea of investing more money into the home, but eventually 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 decreased their energy consumption considerably, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before setting up solar.