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 fourth installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installment includes market leaders and subjects associated with accelerating an equitable and just transition to a renewable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three 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 always look for opportunities to serve others– be it by providing extraordinary client service, language translations, or simply sharing knowledge with others. My individual objectives and desire to assist others led me to operate in the eco-friendly energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Tell us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss objective is easy: we want to make solar simple and budget-friendly every step of the method. We mainly serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and adopt renewable resource as a lifestyle, assisting generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey towards developing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha moment” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my company partner and I had the chance to join a really appealing little solar setup company in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity readily available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community. As an outcome, my partner and I combined his experience in offering to the Hispanic market with my consumer service proficiency to develop SUNTEX where “the customer is the reason we exist as a company”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic neighborhood and our customers with outstanding customer care.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic community a concern for SUNTEX?
Number Two: in the past, we have actually personally experienced an absence of care and interaction from those that can not recognize with our culture. We understood that solar advantages everyone, regardless of race or background, and that our individuals would require a lot of support to comprehend how to acquire this benefit for their houses.
What challenges do you face? Why?
Being a small business with a high level of service expectations for our consumers includes its own set of challenges. The greatest challenge we face is shared by a number of small businesses: turnover. In addition, even though solar power has been around for a while, the essentials of these jobs are not extensively taught in school. So, we need to invest a lot quantity of time training sales personnel to make certain they are able to supply a high level of customer care.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By merely living up to our honest values. I have actually found out throughout my life that in company, there is no other method to do it right but to be sincere. While others might take faster ways, the fact constantly dominates.
Please show us a recent business success story.
Recently, after helping a client “go solar” in two of her houses, she referred a new client called Angela to us. During our initial visit, I kept in mind that they could only accomplish about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their houses consumption rates and shading from trees on the home. We discussed a couple of extra energy performance upgrades to your home to minimize energy consumption, which could supply a greater energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the idea of investing more cash into the house, but ultimately she called me back and stated she wished to progress with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades. We completed a Home Energy Audit to see why her usage was so high and discovered that her house needed a bigger AC unit, plus additional ducts to distribute the air conditioner uniformly throughout your home. We also informed her that the finance partner could add the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– and that in doing so, she might qualify for a lower rate of interest than any other house improvement loan for that air conditioner upgrade. She took my advice and decided to move on and was, in reality, able to minimize her loan rate of interest.
During the installation, we wound up spending for Angela and her senior mom to stay in a hotel up until their upgrades and examinations were total to guarantee they were comfortable throughout the process.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electrical power utilized in her house. Thanks to the air conditioning upgrade, they have lowered their energy intake significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we imply by “customer support.”
From a national viewpoint, how can we improve access to eco-friendly enery?
From my experience, there is a large gap in gain access to. The majority of the homeowners that we visit are fortunate to own a house, yet a number of them have not gotten approved for solar due to several combined or isolated elements such as subprime credit score, lower yearly home earnings, self-employment, or a lack of knowledge of offered loan programs. These neighborhoods require more assistance and education on the significance of setting up a solar system that can conserve them money. We require to offer more people with chances to adopt renewable resource with less hassles.
How has your Accelerate membership helped your service?
By empowering us to believe that there is someone there to support our development in this market, and offering us the chance to satisfy others in the very same boat. Now I know that there is expect minority small companies in the renewable resource market.
How can possible partners work with you?
It is important that we share the same values and objective to assist others, even if it suggests leaving our comfort zones. It may cost a bit more for us to do company, but its worth it in the end for our clients. We d enjoy to fulfill to talk about possible cooperation opportunities if youre willing to start there.
Exists anything else you wish to show ACORE members and partners?
We are truly grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the opportunities you have supplied. I know this is only the beginning, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; nevertheless, I look forward to ending up being a sponsor to assist pave the method for other Accelerate members in the future– with an unique 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, check out https://suntexllc.com/.
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Furthermore, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not commonly taught in school. During our preliminary visit, I noted that they might only achieve about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes usage rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We went over a couple of extra energy performance upgrades to the home to minimize energy intake, which could offer a higher energy offset. Angela initially winced at the idea of investing more cash into the home, however eventually she called me back and stated she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. Thanks to the Air conditioning upgrade, they have actually decreased 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.