Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Ally Mendoza, CEO of SUNTEX

By Constance ThompsonSeptember 16, 2021

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is pleased to share the 4th installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installment includes market leaders and subjects connected to accelerating a fair and simply shift to a sustainable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are flourishing in the eco-friendly energy sector.
What inspired you to begin SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I constantly set high expectations for myself and always look for opportunities to serve others– be it by providing exceptional customer support, language translations, or merely sharing understanding with others. My individual objectives and desire to help others led me to operate in the eco-friendly energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Inform us about SUNTEX?
Our companys mission is simple: we want to make solar simple and cost effective every action of the way. We largely serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and embrace renewable resource as a lifestyle, helping generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey toward developing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha moment” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my service partner and I had the chance to join an extremely promising small solar installation company in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity readily available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) neighborhood. As an outcome, my partner and I integrated his experience in offering to the Hispanic market with my customer care proficiency to create SUNTEX where “the consumer is the reason we exist as a business”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic neighborhood and our clients with outstanding customer support.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic neighborhood a top priority for SUNTEX?
Number Two: in the past, we have personally experienced an absence of care and communication from those that can not identify with our culture. We knew that solar advantages everybody, regardless of race or background, and that our people would need a lot of assistance to comprehend how to get this advantage for their houses.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
Being a little company with a high level of service expectations for our customers features its own set of obstacles. The biggest challenge we deal with is shared by a number of little organizations: turnover. Additionally, although solar power has been around for a while, the essentials of these tasks are not commonly taught in school. We have to invest a lot quantity of time training sales personnel to make sure they are able to offer a high level of client service.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By merely living up to our sincere worths. I have learned throughout my life that in business, there is no other method to do it best but to be sincere. While others may take shortcuts, the truth always prevails.
Please share with us a recent company success story.
Recently, after helping a customer “go solar” in two of her homes, she referred a new client called Angela to us. During our initial consultation, I noted that they could only accomplish about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the property. We went over a few additional energy efficiency upgrades to your home to lower energy consumption, which might supply a higher energy balanced out. Angela at first winced at the idea of investing more cash into the house, but eventually she called me back and stated she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy performance 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 distribute the Air Conditioner evenly throughout your home. We also told her that the financing partner could add the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– and that in doing so, she could certify for a lower rates of interest than any other house improvement loan for that A/C upgrade. She took my guidance and chose to progress and was, in reality, able to lower her loan interest rate.
Throughout the installation, we wound up paying for Angela and her senior mom to remain in a hotel till their evaluations and upgrades were total to guarantee they were comfy throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electrical energy used in her home. Thanks to the Air Conditioner upgrade, they have actually minimized their energy intake considerably, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before installing solar. This is what we suggest by “customer support.”
From a nationwide perspective, how can we enhance access to sustainable enery?
Many of the house owners that we check out are fortunate to own a house, yet numerous of them have not certified for solar due to a number of combined or isolated aspects such as subprime credit score, lower yearly home income, self-employment, or a lack of understanding of readily available loan programs. We require to offer more individuals with chances to adopt renewable energy with fewer hassles.
How has your Accelerate membership helped your organization?
By empowering us to believe that there is somebody there to support our growth in this industry, and providing us the chance to fulfill others in the very same boat. Now I know that there is hope for minority little companies in the renewable resource market.
How can possible partners work with you?
It is necessary that we share the very same values and mission to assist others, even if it implies leaving our comfort zones. It may cost a little bit more for us to do company, but its worth it in the end for our clients. If youre ready to start there, we d love to meet to go over possible partnership chances.
Exists anything else you would like to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are genuinely grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the chances you have provided. I know this is only the beginning, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; however, I anticipate becoming a sponsor to assist lead the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my consumers and partners at SUNTEX, considering that they are the fuel that drives the mission!
To discover more about SUNTEX, check out https://suntexllc.com/.
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Additionally, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not widely taught in school. Throughout our preliminary appointment, I kept in mind that they could just attain about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the property. We went over a couple of additional energy performance upgrades to the home to reduce energy intake, which might provide a greater energy offset. Angela initially flinched at the idea of investing more money into the house, but eventually she called me back and said she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy performance upgrades. Thanks to the Air Conditioner 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.