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 4th installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installation includes industry leaders and subjects associated with accelerating a fair and simply transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are growing in the renewable 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 opportunities to serve others– be it by providing extraordinary customer care, language translations, or simply sharing understanding with others. My personal goals and desire to help others led me to work in the renewable resource sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Tell us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss objective is basic: we wish to make solar simple and economical every step of the way. We largely serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and adopt renewable resource as a way of life, assisting generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey towards developing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha minute” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my service partner and I had the chance to sign up with an extremely appealing small solar setup business in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity readily available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community.
Why is concentrating on the Hispanic neighborhood a top priority for SUNTEX?
Number Two: in the past, we have actually personally experienced a lack of care and interaction from those that can not identify with our culture. We understood that solar benefits everyone, regardless of race or background, and that our individuals would need a lot of assistance to comprehend how to acquire this advantage for their houses.
What challenges do you face? Why?
Being a little company with a high level of service expectations for our consumers comes with its own set of obstacles. Nevertheless, the best obstacle we deal with is shared by a number of little companies: turnover. Additionally, although solar power has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these jobs are not widely taught in school. So, we need to spend a lot amount of time training sales personnel to make certain they have the ability to provide a high level of customer support.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By just measuring up to our sincere worths. I have learned throughout my life that in business, there is no other way to do it right however to be sincere. While others might take shortcuts, the truth constantly dominates.
Please share with us a current company success story.
Just recently, after helping a client “go solar” in two of her homes, she referred a brand-new customer named Angela to us. During our preliminary visit, I kept in mind that they might just 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 couple of extra energy efficiency upgrades to your home to reduce energy intake, which might offer a greater energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the thought of investing more cash into the house, but ultimately she called me back and said she desired to progress with the solar and energy performance upgrades. We finished a Home Energy Audit to see why her use was so high and found that her home required a bigger AC system, plus extra ducts to distribute the air conditioning uniformly throughout your home. We also told her that the financing partner might include the cost 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 air conditioning upgrade. She took my recommendations and chose to move on and was, in truth, able to lower her loan rate of interest.
Throughout the setup, we wound up spending for Angela and her elderly mother to remain in a hotel up until their evaluations and upgrades were complete to guarantee they were comfy throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electricity used in her home. Thanks to the air conditioner upgrade, they have actually minimized their energy usage greatly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to installing solar. This is what we indicate by “client service.”
From a national viewpoint, how can we enhance access to renewable enery?
Most of the house owners that we check out are lucky to own a house, yet numerous of them have not certified for solar due to numerous combined or separated elements such as subprime credit rating, lower annual home earnings, self-employment, or an absence of knowledge of readily available loan programs. We need to supply more individuals with chances to embrace eco-friendly energy with less inconveniences.
How has your Accelerate subscription helped your business?
By empowering us to think that there is someone there to support our development in this market, and offering us the chance to satisfy others in the same boat. Now I know that there is expect minority small services in the eco-friendly energy market.
How can prospective partners do business with you?
It is very important that we share the same worths and mission to help others, even if it implies getting out of our convenience zones. It may cost a little bit more for us to do company, but its worth it in the end for our consumers. We d love to fulfill to talk about possible cooperation chances if youre willing to begin there.
Exists anything else you want to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are really grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the opportunities you have actually provided. I know this is just the beginning, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; however, I eagerly anticipate becoming a sponsor to help pave the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my clients and partners at SUNTEX, since they are the fuel that drives the mission!
To discover more about SUNTEX, go to https://suntexllc.com/.
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Furthermore, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the essentials of these tasks are not extensively taught in school. Throughout our preliminary consultation, I kept in mind that they might only accomplish about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes intake rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We talked about a couple of extra energy efficiency upgrades to the house to decrease energy usage, which could offer a higher energy offset. Angela at first flinched 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 performance upgrades. Thanks to the Air conditioning upgrade, they have actually lowered their energy consumption greatly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before setting up solar.