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 includes market leaders and topics connected to speeding up an equitable and just transition to a renewable energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are flourishing in the eco-friendly energy sector.
What inspired you to start SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I constantly set high expectations for myself and constantly search for chances to serve others– be it by supplying exceptional customer support, language translations, or just sharing understanding with others. My individual goals and desire to help others led me to operate in the renewable resource sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Inform us about SUNTEX?
Our businesss mission is basic: we wish to make solar simple and budget-friendly every action of the method. We mainly serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and embrace renewable resource as a lifestyle, assisting generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey towards developing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha minute” when you chose to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my service partner and I had the opportunity to join a really appealing little solar installation company in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity available to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community. As a result, my partner and I combined his experience in offering to the Hispanic market with my client service expertise to produce SUNTEX where “the consumer is the reason we exist as a company”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic community and our customers with outstanding client service.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic community a concern for SUNTEX?
Primary: it remains in our blood. My business partner and I are native Spanish speakers, and we can identify well with our people and their worldview. Number Two: in the past, we have personally experienced a lack of care and communication from those that can not relate to our culture. We understood that solar advantages everyone, regardless of race or background, which our people would need a lot of assistance to comprehend how to acquire this benefit for their homes.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
Being a little business with a high level of service expectations for our consumers comes with its own set of obstacles. The biggest difficulty we deal with is shared by a number of little businesses: turnover. Additionally, although solar power has actually been around for a while, the fundamentals of these jobs are not commonly taught in school. So, we have to spend a lot quantity of time training sales personnel to ensure they have the ability to supply a high level of client service.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By just measuring up to our truthful worths. I have found out throughout my life that in business, there is no other way to do it right however to be sincere. While others may take shortcuts, the fact always dominates.
Please show us a current business success story.
Recently, after helping a client “go solar” in 2 of her houses, she referred a new client called Angela to us. During our preliminary visit, I noted that they could just achieve about 56% of solar power offset due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the property. We talked about a few additional energy performance upgrades to your home to minimize energy intake, which might provide a higher energy balanced out. Angela initially winced at the idea of investing more money into the home, however ultimately she called me back and stated she wished to move on with the solar and energy performance upgrades. We completed a Home Energy Audit to see why her usage was so high and found that her house needed a bigger a/c unit, plus additional ducts to disperse the air conditioner equally throughout your house. We likewise told her that the financing partner might include the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– and that in doing so, she might receive a lower rates of interest than any other house improvement loan for that a/c upgrade. She took my recommendations and chose to move forward and was, in reality, able to reduce her loan interest rate.
During the installation, we ended up paying for Angela and her senior mom to stay in a hotel up until their upgrades and examinations were complete to guarantee they were comfortable throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electrical power utilized in her home. Thanks to the AC upgrade, they have actually minimized their energy usage significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying prior to installing solar. This is what we mean by “customer support.”
From a national viewpoint, how can we enhance access to eco-friendly enery?
Many of the homeowners that we visit are lucky to own a home, yet numerous of them have actually not qualified for solar due to numerous combined or separated elements such as subprime credit rating, lower annual family income, self-employment, or a lack of knowledge of available loan programs. We need to provide more individuals with opportunities to adopt renewable energy with fewer troubles.
How has your Accelerate subscription helped your business?
By empowering us to believe that there is someone there to support our growth in this market, and providing us the chance to meet others in the very same boat. Now I understand that there is expect minority small companies in the renewable energy industry.
How can prospective partners do business with you?
It is very important that we share the very same worths and mission to assist others, even if it indicates getting out of our comfort zones. It might cost a little more for us to do organization, but its worth it in the end for our customers. If youre ready to begin there, we d enjoy to meet to talk about possible cooperation opportunities.
Exists anything else you would like to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are really grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the opportunities you have actually supplied. I know this is just the start, and we have a long road ahead of us; nevertheless, I eagerly anticipate ending up being a sponsor to assist pave the way for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my clients and partners at SUNTEX, considering that they are the fuel that drives the objective!
To find out more about SUNTEX, check out https://suntexllc.com/.
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Additionally, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the essentials of these tasks are not commonly taught in school. During our initial consultation, I noted that they could just accomplish about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their houses usage rates and shading from trees on the home. We went over a few extra energy performance upgrades to the home to minimize energy consumption, which might provide a greater energy balanced out. Angela at first flinched at the idea of investing more money into the house, but ultimately she called me back and said she wanted to move forward with the solar and energy performance upgrades. Thanks to the Air conditioning upgrade, they have decreased their energy usage greatly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying before setting up solar.