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 installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installation includes industry leaders and topics related 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 three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are growing 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 search for chances to serve others– be it by providing remarkable client service, language translations, or merely sharing understanding with others. My individual goals and desire to assist others led me to operate in the renewable energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a larger scale.
Inform us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss objective is easy: we desire to make solar simple and economical every action of the method. We largely serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and embrace renewable resource as a method of life, helping 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 join an extremely appealing little solar installation business in Houston. Through this work we saw the chance readily available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community.
Why is concentrating on the Hispanic community a concern for SUNTEX?
Number Two: in the past, we have personally experienced a lack of care and interaction from those that can not determine with our culture. We knew that solar benefits everybody, regardless of race or background, and that our individuals would need a lot of support to comprehend how to acquire this benefit for their houses.
What obstacles 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. However, the best challenge we deal with is shared by a number of small companies: turnover. Furthermore, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not widely taught in school. So, we need to spend a lot amount of time training sales staff to make certain they are able to provide a high level of customer care.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By merely living up to our truthful values. I have actually learned throughout my life that in service, there is no other method to do it right however to be honest. While others may take faster ways, the reality constantly prevails.
Please show us a recent business success story.
Just recently, after helping a customer “go solar” in two of her homes, she referred a brand-new client called Angela to us. Throughout our initial consultation, I kept in mind that they could just accomplish about 56% of solar power balanced out due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the home. We went over a few additional energy efficiency upgrades to your home to lower energy consumption, which might supply a greater energy balanced out. Angela at first cringed at the idea of investing more money into the house, but ultimately she called me back and said she wished to progress with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades. We finished a Home Energy Audit to see why her use was so high and discovered that her home needed a larger a/c unit, plus additional ducts to disperse the AC equally throughout the house. We likewise told her that the finance partner might include the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– which in doing so, she might get approved for a lower rates of interest than any other home improvement loan for that a/c upgrade. She took my advice and chose to progress and was, in reality, able to decrease her loan rates of interest.
During the installation, we wound up paying for Angela and her elderly mom to remain in a hotel up until their upgrades and assessments were total to ensure they were comfortable throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electricity used in her home. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have reduced their energy usage considerably, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment every month that is less than she was paying before installing solar. This is what we suggest by “customer support.”
From a nationwide point of view, how can we enhance access to eco-friendly enery?
From my experience, there is a huge gap in gain access to. Many of the property owners that we check out are lucky to own a home, yet many of them have not gotten approved for solar due to a number of combined or separated aspects such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly household income, self-employment, or an absence of understanding of offered loan programs. These communities need more assistance and education on the significance of installing a planetary system that can conserve them money. We require to offer more individuals with opportunities to embrace eco-friendly energy with less inconveniences.
How has your Accelerate subscription assisted your service?
By empowering us to think that there is someone there to support our development in this industry, and giving us the opportunity to fulfill others in the very same boat. Now I know that there is hope for minority small services in the renewable resource market.
How can potential partners work with you?
It is very important that we share the very same values and mission to help others, even if it implies leaving our comfort zones. It might cost a little bit more for us to do service, however its worth it in the end for our consumers. If youre willing to start there, we d love to meet to go over possible cooperation chances.
Exists anything else you wish to show ACORE members and partners?
We are genuinely grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the chances you have actually provided. I know this is just the start, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; however, I eagerly anticipate becoming a sponsor to assist lead 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 read more about SUNTEX, go to https://suntexllc.com/.
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Furthermore, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the essentials of these tasks are not widely taught in school. Throughout our preliminary appointment, I kept in mind that they might just attain 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 extra energy efficiency upgrades to the home to lower energy intake, which might provide a higher energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the thought of investing more cash into the house, 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 reduced their energy usage significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to installing solar.