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 installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installation includes industry leaders and subjects associated with accelerating an equitable and just transition to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how 3 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 constantly look for chances to serve others– be it by offering remarkable customer support, language translations, or merely sharing knowledge with others. My individual objectives and desire to help 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 simple: we wish to make solar simple and budget-friendly every action of the way. We mainly serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and embrace renewable resource as a way of life, helping generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey toward developing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha minute” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my company partner and I had the opportunity to join an extremely promising little solar setup company in Houston. Through this work we saw the chance readily 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 support proficiency to create SUNTEX where “the customer is the factor we exist as a company”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic neighborhood and our consumers with exceptional customer support.
Why is concentrating on the Hispanic neighborhood a priority for SUNTEX?
Top: it remains in our blood. My company partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can identify 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 advantages everybody, regardless of race or background, which our people would need a lot of support to comprehend how to get this advantage for their houses.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
Being a small company with a high level of service expectations for our customers comes with its own set of difficulties. Furthermore, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not extensively taught in school.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By just measuring up to our truthful values. I have found out throughout my life that in service, there is no other way to do it ideal however to be honest. While others might take faster ways, the fact always prevails.
Please share with us a current company success story.
Just recently, after assisting a client “go solar” in 2 of her homes, she referred a brand-new customer called Angela to us. Throughout our initial visit, I kept in mind that they could only attain about 56% of solar power balanced out due to their houses usage rates and shading from trees on the property. We talked about a few additional energy performance upgrades to your home to reduce energy consumption, which could offer a higher energy offset. Angela at first winced at the thought of investing more cash into the home, but eventually she called me back and stated she desired to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. We completed a Home Energy Audit to see why her use was so high and found that her house required a bigger Air Conditioning unit, plus extra ducts to disperse the Air Conditioner evenly throughout your home. We likewise informed her that the financing partner might include the expense of that upgrade to the solar loan– and that in doing so, she could receive a lower rates of interest than any other home improvement loan for that AC upgrade. She took my guidance and chose to move on and was, in truth, able to reduce her loan rate of interest.
During the installation, we wound up paying for Angela and her elderly mother to stay in a hotel till their evaluations and upgrades were complete to ensure they were comfortable throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electrical power used in her house. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have actually reduced their energy usage considerably, 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 imply by “client service.”
From a nationwide point of view, how can we improve access to eco-friendly enery?
Many of the property owners that we visit are lucky to own a house, yet many of them have not qualified for solar due to several combined or separated aspects such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly household earnings, self-employment, or a lack of understanding of offered loan programs. We require to supply more people with opportunities to adopt sustainable energy with less hassles.
How has your Accelerate membership helped your business?
By empowering us to think that there is somebody there to support our development in this industry, and offering us the chance to satisfy others in the same boat. Now I know that there is hope for minority small companies in the renewable energy market.
How can potential partners work with you?
It is crucial that we share the exact same worths and objective to assist others, even if it indicates getting out of our convenience zones. It may cost a bit more for us to do organization, but its worth it in the end for our consumers. We d love to fulfill to discuss possible partnership chances if youre willing to start there.
Is there anything else you would like to show ACORE members and partners?
We are really grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the opportunities you have actually offered. I understand this is just the beginning, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; nevertheless, 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 partners at SUNTEX, given that they are the fuel that drives the objective!
To find out more about SUNTEX, visit https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the basics of these tasks are not extensively taught in school. During our initial consultation, I noted 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 discussed a few additional energy effectiveness upgrades to the house to decrease energy consumption, which might offer a higher energy offset. Angela at first winced at the thought of investing more cash into the home, however ultimately she called me back and said she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades. Thanks to the A/C upgrade, they have reduced their energy usage considerably, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to installing solar.