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 installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installment features market leaders and topics associated with accelerating a fair and simply shift to a renewable resource economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business are thriving 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 offering exceptional customer support, language translations, or just sharing knowledge with others. My personal objectives and desire to assist others led me to work in the sustainable energy sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Inform us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss objective is basic: we wish to make solar easy and inexpensive every step of the method. We mostly serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– assist Spanish speakers understand and adopt renewable resource as a way of living, helping generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey towards establishing SUNTEX. Existed an “aha minute” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my service partner and I had the chance to sign up with a really promising small solar setup company in Houston. Through this work we saw the chance offered to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic community a priority for SUNTEX?
Number Two: in the past, we have personally experienced a lack of care and interaction from those that can not identify with our culture. We knew that solar advantages everyone, regardless of race or background, and that our individuals would need a lot of assistance to comprehend how to acquire this benefit for their homes.
What challenges do you face? Why?
Being a small company with a high level of service expectations for our consumers includes its own set of obstacles. The greatest difficulty we face is shared by a number of small organizations: turnover. Additionally, although solar energy has actually been around for a while, the essentials of these tasks are not commonly 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 customer care.
How are you making an effect through SUNTEX?
By just living up to our honest values. I have discovered throughout my life that in business, there is no other way to do it best however to be truthful. While others might take shortcuts, the truth constantly prevails.
Please show us a current business success story.
Recently, after assisting a customer “go solar” in two of her homes, she referred a new customer called Angela to us. During our preliminary appointment, I kept in mind that they could only achieve about 56% of solar power balanced out due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We discussed a couple of extra energy performance upgrades to your home to reduce energy usage, which might offer a greater 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 wanted to progress with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. We finished a Home Energy Audit to see why her use was so high and found that her home needed a bigger air conditioning system, plus extra ducts to distribute the AC evenly throughout your house. We also informed her that the financing partner could add the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– and that in doing so, she could receive a lower rate of interest than any other house enhancement loan for that AC upgrade. She took my recommendations and chose to move forward and was, in fact, able to reduce her loan rate of interest.
During the installation, we ended up spending for Angela and her senior mom to remain in a hotel until their assessments and upgrades were complete to guarantee they were comfortable throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electrical power used in her home. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have reduced their energy intake significantly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we imply by “consumer service.”
From a nationwide perspective, how can we improve access to sustainable enery?
Many of the homeowners that we check out are lucky to own a house, yet numerous of them have actually not qualified for solar due to a number of combined or separated aspects such as subprime credit rating, lower yearly family earnings, self-employment, or an absence of understanding of readily available loan programs. We require to offer more individuals with chances to embrace renewable energy with fewer troubles.
How has your Accelerate subscription helped your organization?
By empowering us to think that there is somebody there to support our growth in this industry, and giving us the chance to meet others in the same boat. Now I know that there is wish for minority little businesses in the eco-friendly energy industry.
How can possible partners work with you?
It is necessary that we share the very same values and mission to help others, even if it suggests getting out of our convenience zones. It may cost a little bit more for us to do company, but its worth it in the end for our customers. We d love to fulfill to talk about possible cooperation opportunities if youre willing to start there.
Exists anything else you want to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are truly grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the chances you have supplied. I know this is only the beginning, and we have a long road ahead of us; nevertheless, I look forward to ending up being a sponsor to assist pave the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with an unique thanks to all of my clients and partners at SUNTEX, because they are the fuel that drives the objective!
For more information about SUNTEX, see https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the basics of these jobs are not commonly taught in school. During our preliminary visit, I noted that they could just achieve about 56% of solar energy offset due to their homes usage rates and shading from trees on the property. We discussed a couple of additional energy effectiveness upgrades to the home to lower energy consumption, which might provide a greater energy offset. Angela initially winced at the thought of investing more cash into the home, but eventually she called me back and said she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have actually decreased their energy intake significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before installing solar.