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 4th installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installation features market leaders and topics associated with speeding up a fair and just transition to a sustainable energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are growing 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 constantly try to find chances to serve others– be it by supplying extraordinary client service, language translations, or simply sharing knowledge with others. My personal objectives and desire to help 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 easy and inexpensive every step of the method. We mostly serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers understand and adopt renewable resource as a method of life, helping generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey toward establishing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha minute” when you decided to concentrate on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my service partner and I had the chance to join a very promising small solar installation business in Houston. Through this work we saw the chance offered to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community.
Why is concentrating on the Hispanic community a priority for SUNTEX?
Number One: it remains in our blood. My organization partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can identify well with our individuals and their worldview. Second: in the past, we have actually personally experienced an absence of care and interaction from those that can not relate to our culture. We understood that solar benefits everybody, despite race or background, and that our individuals would require a lot of assistance to comprehend how to obtain this advantage for their houses.
What challenges do you face? Why?
Being a small business with a high level of service expectations for our clients comes with its own set of challenges. In addition, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the basics of these tasks are not extensively taught in school.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By simply measuring up to our truthful values. I have learned throughout my life that in organization, there is no other way to do it best but to be truthful. While others may take shortcuts, the reality always dominates.
Please show us a current company success story.
Recently, after helping a client “go solar” in two of her homes, she referred a brand-new customer named Angela to us. Throughout our initial visit, I noted that they could only accomplish about 56% of solar energy offset due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We discussed a few additional energy performance upgrades to your home to reduce energy intake, which could supply a higher energy balanced out. Angela at first cringed at the thought of investing more cash into the house, however eventually she called me back and said she wished to move on with the solar and energy performance upgrades. We completed a Home Energy Audit to see why her use was so high and discovered that her house needed a larger AC system, plus extra ducts to distribute the Air Conditioning uniformly throughout your home. We also informed her that the finance partner could add the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– which in doing so, she could receive a lower rate of interest than any other home enhancement loan for that Air Conditioner upgrade. She took my guidance and decided to move on and was, in fact, able to decrease her loan interest rate.
Throughout the setup, we ended up paying for Angela and her elderly mother to remain in a hotel up until their upgrades and inspections were complete to guarantee they were comfy throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electrical energy utilized in her house. Thanks to the A/C upgrade, they have actually minimized their energy intake significantly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before installing solar. This is what we indicate by “consumer service.”
From a national point of view, how can we improve access to renewable enery?
Many of the house owners that we go to are fortunate to own a house, yet many of them have not certified for solar due to numerous combined or isolated aspects such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly home income, self-employment, or an absence of understanding of available loan programs. We require to supply more people with opportunities to embrace sustainable energy with fewer hassles.
How has your Accelerate subscription helped your business?
By empowering us to think that there is someone there to support our growth in this market, and offering us the opportunity to satisfy others in the exact same boat. Now I know that there is wish for minority small companies in the renewable resource market.
How can possible partners do business with you?
It is crucial that we share the very same values and mission to help others, even if it implies getting out of our comfort zones. It may cost a bit more for us to do business, however its worth it in the end for our consumers. We d like to satisfy to go over possible collaboration opportunities if youre ready to begin there.
Is there anything else you wish to show ACORE members and partners?
We are truly grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the chances you have provided. I understand this is just the beginning, and we have a long road ahead of us; however, I anticipate ending up being a sponsor to help lead the way 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 objective!
To read more about SUNTEX, visit https://suntexllc.com/.
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Furthermore, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these jobs are not commonly taught in school. Throughout our preliminary visit, I noted that they could just accomplish about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes consumption rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We talked about a few additional energy efficiency upgrades to the house to minimize energy intake, which could supply a greater energy balanced out. Angela initially winced at the idea of investing more cash into the home, but ultimately she called me back and said she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy performance upgrades. Thanks to the A/C upgrade, they have actually lowered their energy usage significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before setting up solar.