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 series.
Each installment features market leaders and subjects connected to speeding up a fair and simply transition to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are prospering in the renewable resource sector.
What inspired you to start SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I always set high expectations for myself and constantly try to find opportunities to serve others– be it by supplying extraordinary customer care, language translations, or just sharing understanding with others. My individual objectives and desire to assist others led me to operate in the renewable resource sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Tell us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss mission is easy: we wish to make solar simple and inexpensive every action of the way. We mostly serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and embrace renewable resource as a way of life, assisting generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey toward establishing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha minute” when you decided to concentrate on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my organization partner and I had the opportunity to join a very promising little solar installation business in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity readily available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community. As a result, my partner and I integrated his experience in selling to the Hispanic market with my consumer service proficiency to produce SUNTEX where “the consumer is the factor we exist as a company”. Our focus is linking the Hispanic neighborhood and our customers with excellent customer care.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic neighborhood a priority for SUNTEX?
Top: it is in our blood. My organization partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can recognize well with our individuals and their worldview. Second: 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 benefits everybody, regardless of race or background, which our people would need a lot of support to comprehend how to get this benefit for their houses.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
Being a little company with a high level of service expectations for our consumers includes its own set of difficulties. The biggest difficulty we deal with is shared by a number of little companies: turnover. In addition, although solar power has been around for a while, the essentials of these tasks are not extensively taught in school. We have to spend a lot amount of time training sales staff to make sure they are able to supply a high level of consumer service.
How are you making an effect through SUNTEX?
By just living up to our truthful values. I have found out throughout my life that in business, there is no other way to do it right but to be sincere. While others might take faster ways, the fact always dominates.
Please share with us a recent business success story.
During our preliminary visit, I kept in mind that they might only attain about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the home. We discussed a couple of additional energy efficiency upgrades to the house to reduce energy consumption, which might offer a greater energy offset. Angela initially flinched at the thought of investing more cash into the home, but ultimately she called me back and stated she desired to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades.
During the installation, we ended up spending for Angela and her elderly mother to remain in a hotel until their upgrades and inspections were complete 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 AC upgrade, they have reduced their energy usage greatly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment every month that is less than she was paying prior to setting up solar. This is what we indicate by “customer support.”
From a national perspective, how can we enhance access to renewable enery?
From my experience, there is a huge space in gain access to. Most of the house owners that we check out are fortunate to own a house, yet much of them have not gotten approved for solar due to a number of combined or isolated factors such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly family income, self-employment, or a lack of knowledge of readily available loan programs. These neighborhoods require more assistance and education on the significance of installing a solar system that can conserve them cash. We require to provide more people with opportunities to embrace renewable resource with less hassles.
How has your Accelerate membership helped your organization?
By empowering us to think that there is somebody there to support our growth in this market, and offering us the opportunity to satisfy others in the very same boat. Now I know that there is wish for minority small businesses in the renewable resource market.
How can potential partners do organization with you?
It is crucial that we share the very same worths and objective to assist others, even if it indicates 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. If youre prepared to start there, we d love to satisfy to discuss possible cooperation opportunities.
Exists anything else you would like to show ACORE members and partners?
We are truly grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the opportunities you have provided. I understand this is only the start, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; however, I look forward to becoming a sponsor to help lead the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with an unique thanks to all of my consumers and collaborators at SUNTEX, considering that they are the fuel that drives the mission!
To find out more about SUNTEX, see https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the fundamentals of these jobs are not widely taught in school. During our initial visit, I kept in mind that they might only achieve about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their houses usage rates and shading from trees on the property. We talked about a couple of additional energy effectiveness upgrades to the house to reduce energy consumption, which might provide a higher energy offset. Angela initially cringed at the thought of investing more cash into the house, but eventually she called me back and said she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. Thanks to the Air conditioner upgrade, they have actually decreased 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.