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 installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installment features industry leaders and subjects associated with accelerating a fair and just transition to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September functions highlight how 3 Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are flourishing in the eco-friendly energy sector.
What inspired you to begin SUNTEX?
As a natural-born leader, I always set high expectations for myself and always search for opportunities to serve others– be it by providing exceptional client service, language translations, or just sharing knowledge 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 mission is simple: we want to make solar simple and cost effective every action of the way. We mainly serve the Hispanic community in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and adopt renewable resource as a lifestyle, assisting generations to come.
Please show us more about your journey toward developing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha minute” when you decided to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my business partner and I had the opportunity to sign up with a very appealing little solar setup company in Houston. Through this work we saw the chance offered to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) community. As an outcome, my partner and I integrated his experience in selling to the Hispanic market with my customer support knowledge to develop SUNTEX where “the client is the reason we exist as a company”. Our focus is linking the Hispanic neighborhood and our customers with outstanding customer support.
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 communication from those that can not identify with our culture. We understood that solar advantages everyone, regardless of race or background, and that our individuals would need a lot of support to understand how to obtain this advantage for their houses.
What obstacles do you face? Why?
Being a little business with a high level of service expectations for our customers comes with its own set of obstacles. Additionally, even though solar energy has actually been around for a while, the basics of these jobs are not widely taught in school.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By simply living up to our sincere values. I have actually found out throughout my life that in business, there is no other way to do it ideal but to be truthful. While others may take faster ways, the reality constantly dominates.
Please share with us a current company success story.
Just recently, after assisting a customer “go solar” in 2 of her homes, she referred a brand-new client called Angela to us. Throughout our preliminary consultation, I kept in mind that they could only attain about 56% of solar power offset due to their houses usage rates and shading from trees on the property. We went over a few additional energy efficiency upgrades to your home to lower energy usage, which might provide a greater energy balanced out. Angela at first cringed at the idea of investing more money into the home, however ultimately she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. We finished a Home Energy Audit to see why her usage was so high and discovered that her home needed a larger Air Conditioner unit, plus additional ducts to disperse the AC uniformly throughout your house. We likewise informed her that the finance partner might include the expense of that upgrade to the solar loan– which in doing so, she might receive a lower rates of interest than any other house improvement loan for that Air Conditioner upgrade. She took my advice and decided to move on and was, in reality, able to decrease her loan interest rate.
During the setup, we ended up paying for Angela and her senior mom to remain in a hotel up until their upgrades and inspections were total to ensure they were comfy throughout the process.
Now, Angelas planetary system covers 100% of the electricity used in her house. Thanks to the A/C upgrade, they have lowered their energy intake significantly, and she has a flat, predictable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we indicate by “client service.”
From a national viewpoint, how can we enhance access to renewable enery?
Most of the house owners that we check out are lucky to own a house, yet many of them have actually not certified for solar due to a number of combined or separated aspects such as subprime credit score, lower annual family earnings, self-employment, or an absence of knowledge of readily available loan programs. We need to supply more people with opportunities to adopt sustainable energy with fewer troubles.
How has your Accelerate membership helped your business?
By empowering us to believe that there is someone there to support our growth in this industry, and offering us the opportunity to satisfy others in the exact same boat. Now I know that there is hope for minority small businesses in the sustainable energy industry.
How can prospective partners do service with you?
It is very important that we share the very same values and objective to help others, even if it means leaving our comfort zones. It may cost a bit more for us to do service, however its worth it in the end for our consumers. We d enjoy to fulfill to discuss possible partnership chances if youre willing to start there.
Exists anything else you wish to show ACORE members and partners?
We are genuinely grateful for the Accelerate membership program and for all of the opportunities you have actually provided. I know this is just the beginning, and we have a long road ahead of us; however, I anticipate ending up being a sponsor to help pave the method for other Accelerate members in the future– with a special thanks to all of my consumers and collaborators at SUNTEX, since they are the fuel that drives the objective!
For more information about SUNTEX, visit https://suntexllc.com/.
###

Furthermore, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the basics of these jobs are not extensively taught in school. Throughout our initial consultation, I noted that they might just achieve about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the residential or commercial property. We talked about a couple of additional energy performance upgrades to the home to reduce energy consumption, which might offer a greater energy balanced out. Angela initially flinched at the idea of investing more money into the home, but ultimately she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy efficiency upgrades. Thanks to the A/C upgrade, they have lowered 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.