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 installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installation includes industry leaders and subjects connected to speeding up an equitable and simply shift to a renewable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are thriving in the sustainable energy sector.
What inspired you to begin SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I always set high expectations for myself and always try to find chances to serve others– be it by supplying extraordinary client service, language translations, or simply sharing understanding with others. My individual objectives and desire to assist others led me to work in the renewable resource sector, where I can pursue this dream on a larger scale.
Inform us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss objective is easy: we wish to make solar simple and budget friendly every step of the way. We largely serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and embrace renewable energy as a way of living, helping generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey towards establishing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha moment” when you decided to concentrate on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my business partner and I had the opportunity to join a very promising small solar installation business in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity offered to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) neighborhood.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic neighborhood a priority for SUNTEX?
Number One: it remains in our blood. My organization partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can recognize well with our people and their worldview. Second: in the past, we have actually personally experienced an absence of care and interaction from those that can not determine with our culture. We understood that solar benefits everybody, regardless of race or background, and that our individuals would require a lot of assistance to understand 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 includes its own set of challenges. However, the best obstacle we deal with is shared by a number of small companies: turnover. Additionally, even though solar energy has actually 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 offer a high level of customer service.
How are you making an impact 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 best however to be truthful. While others might take faster ways, the reality constantly dominates.
Please show us a current business success story.
Recently, after helping a customer “go solar” in 2 of her homes, she referred a brand-new customer called Angela to us. Throughout our preliminary consultation, I kept in mind that they might just accomplish about 56% of solar power offset due to their homes usage rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We went over a few extra energy effectiveness upgrades to your home to reduce energy intake, which could offer a greater energy offset. Angela at first flinched at the idea of investing more money into the house, but ultimately she called me back and stated she wished to progress 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 house required a bigger Air Conditioner unit, plus extra ducts to distribute the Air Conditioner uniformly throughout your house. We likewise informed her that the financing partner might add the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– which in doing so, she might receive a lower rates of interest than any other home enhancement loan for that Air Conditioner upgrade. She took my advice and chose to progress and was, in reality, able to lower her loan rate of interest.
Throughout the setup, we ended up paying for Angela and her elderly mom to stay in a hotel till their upgrades and assessments were complete to guarantee they were comfy throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electrical power utilized in her house. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have actually decreased their energy usage considerably, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we mean by “customer support.”
From a nationwide point of view, how can we enhance access to sustainable enery?
Most of the house owners that we go to are lucky to own a house, yet numerous of them have actually not qualified for solar due to a number of combined or separated elements such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly family earnings, self-employment, or an absence of knowledge of offered loan programs. We require to supply more people with opportunities to adopt renewable energy with fewer troubles.
How has your Accelerate membership assisted your service?
By empowering us to think that there is somebody there to support our development in this market, and giving us the chance to meet others in the exact same boat. Now I understand that there is expect minority little organizations in the renewable resource industry.
How can potential partners work with you?
It is essential that we share the very same worths and mission to help others, even if it implies leaving our comfort zones. It may cost a little bit more for us to do business, but its worth it in the end for our consumers. We d love to fulfill to discuss possible cooperation opportunities if youre prepared to start there.
Exists anything else you wish to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are genuinely grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the chances you have supplied. I know this is only the start, and we have a long roadway ahead of us; nevertheless, I look forward to ending up being a sponsor to help pave the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with an unique thanks to all of my clients and collaborators at SUNTEX, considering that they are the fuel that drives the mission!
To discover more about SUNTEX, go to https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the basics of these tasks are not widely taught in school. Throughout our initial visit, I kept in mind that they could only accomplish about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes intake rates and shading from trees on the home. We went over a couple of extra energy effectiveness upgrades to the home to minimize energy usage, which might offer a higher energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the thought 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 AC upgrade, they have actually lowered their energy usage greatly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to setting up solar.