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 installment includes market leaders and subjects connected to accelerating an equitable and just 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 begin SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I constantly set high expectations for myself and always look for chances to serve others– be it by supplying remarkable customer support, language translations, or just sharing knowledge with others. My individual objectives 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 want to make solar easy and cost effective every step of the method. We largely serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and adopt sustainable energy as a way of living, helping generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey toward establishing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha moment” when you decided to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my company partner and I had the chance to sign up with a very 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 a result, my partner and I integrated his experience in offering to the Hispanic market with my customer care expertise to develop SUNTEX where “the customer is the reason we exist as a business”. Our focus is linking the Hispanic neighborhood and our consumers with outstanding customer care.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic neighborhood a priority for SUNTEX?
Top: it remains in our blood. My business partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can recognize well with our people and their worldview. Number Two: in the past, we have actually personally experienced an absence of care and communication from those that can not identify with our culture. We understood that solar benefits everyone, no matter race or background, and that our individuals would require a great deal of support to understand how to acquire this advantage for their homes.
What obstacles do you face? Why?
Being a little business with a high level of service expectations for our consumers comes with its own set of challenges. The biggest obstacle we face is shared by a number of small services: turnover. Furthermore, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the fundamentals of these tasks are not widely taught in school. So, we have to spend a lot amount of time training sales staff to make certain they have the ability to offer a high level of consumer service.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By merely measuring up to our truthful values. I have actually learned throughout my life that in service, there is no other method to do it right but to be honest. While others might take shortcuts, the reality always prevails.
Please share with us a recent company success story.
During our preliminary appointment, I noted that they might just accomplish about 56% of solar energy offset due to their houses usage rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We talked about a few extra energy performance upgrades to the house to minimize energy consumption, which might offer a higher energy offset. Angela at first cringed at the thought of investing more cash into the home, however eventually she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy performance upgrades.
Throughout the installation, we ended up spending for Angela and her elderly mom to remain in a hotel until their inspections and upgrades were complete to guarantee they were comfy throughout the process.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electrical energy utilized in her home. Thanks to the air conditioner upgrade, they have minimized their energy intake significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to 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?
Most of the house owners that we visit are lucky to own a house, yet many of them have actually not certified for solar due to several combined or separated aspects such as subprime credit rating, lower annual home earnings, self-employment, or a lack of knowledge of readily available loan programs. We need to offer more people with chances to embrace sustainable energy with less hassles.
How has your Accelerate subscription helped your company?
By empowering us to think that there is somebody there to support our development in this industry, and giving us the opportunity to meet others in the same boat. Now I understand that there is hope for minority small companies in the renewable resource market.
How can prospective partners do service with you?
It is necessary that we share the exact same worths and mission to help others, even if it means getting out of our comfort zones. It may cost a little more for us to do business, however its worth it in the end for our consumers. We d like to meet to discuss possible collaboration chances if youre prepared to begin there.
Is there anything else you would like to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are truly grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the chances you have actually supplied. I understand this is just the beginning, and we have a long road ahead of us; nevertheless, I eagerly anticipate becoming a sponsor to help pave the method for other Accelerate members in the future– with an unique thanks to all of my consumers and collaborators at SUNTEX, because they are the fuel that drives the mission!
To learn more about SUNTEX, see https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the essentials of these jobs are not extensively taught in school. Throughout our preliminary visit, I noted that they might just achieve about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their homes intake rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We talked about a few extra energy effectiveness upgrades to the house to lower energy consumption, which could offer a higher energy balanced out. Angela at first flinched at the idea of investing more cash into the house, however eventually she called me back and stated she desired to move forward with the solar and energy performance upgrades. Thanks to the A/c upgrade, they have decreased their energy intake significantly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to installing solar.