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 installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series.
Each installation includes market leaders and subjects related to speeding up a fair and just shift to a renewable energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member business 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 look for opportunities to serve others– be it by supplying exceptional customer service, language translations, or just sharing knowledge with others. My individual goals and desire to help others led me to work in the renewable resource sector, where I can pursue this dream on a bigger scale.
Tell us about SUNTEX?
Our companys mission is basic: we desire to make solar easy and budget-friendly every action of the method. We largely serve the Hispanic neighborhood in Texas. That is what we do best– help Spanish speakers comprehend and adopt renewable resource as a method of life, helping generations to come.
Please share with us more about your journey towards developing SUNTEX. Was there an “aha minute” when you decided to focus on solar?
Back in August of 2018, my service partner and I had the chance to join a very appealing little solar setup business in Houston. Through this work we saw the opportunity offered to bring solar into our (the Hispanic) neighborhood. As a result, my partner and I integrated his experience in selling to the Hispanic market with my customer support knowledge to produce SUNTEX where “the customer is the reason we exist as a company”. Our focus is connecting the Hispanic community and our consumers with outstanding customer support.
Why is focusing on the Hispanic community a priority for SUNTEX?
Number Two: in the past, we have actually 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 people would need a lot of assistance to understand how to obtain 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 customers comes with its own set of obstacles. The biggest difficulty we face is shared by a number of little companies: turnover. In addition, although solar power has been around for a while, the essentials of these tasks are not extensively taught in school. So, we need to invest a lot amount of time training sales staff to make sure they are able to provide a high level of customer care.
How are you making an impact through SUNTEX?
By just living up to our honest values. I have actually found out throughout my life that in business, there is no other way to do it right however to be honest. While others may take shortcuts, the reality always prevails.
Please share with us a current company success story.
Just recently, after helping a client “go solar” in two of her houses, she referred a brand-new customer called Angela to us. Throughout our preliminary appointment, I noted that they could only attain about 56% of solar power balanced out due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the property. We discussed a few extra energy effectiveness upgrades to your home to minimize energy consumption, which could supply a higher energy offset. Angela initially cringed at the idea of investing more money into the home, however eventually she called me back and stated 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 found that her house needed a bigger Air Conditioning system, plus additional ducts to disperse the Air Conditioner uniformly throughout the home. We also told her that the finance partner might add the cost of that upgrade to the solar loan– which in doing so, she might receive a lower interest rate than any other house enhancement loan for that Air Conditioning upgrade. She took my guidance and decided to move on and was, in truth, able to reduce her loan interest rate.
Throughout the setup, we ended up spending for Angela and her senior mom to stay in a hotel till their upgrades and examinations were complete to ensure they were comfortable throughout the procedure.
Now, Angelas solar system covers 100% of the electricity utilized in her home. Thanks to the A/C upgrade, they have lowered their energy consumption significantly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment monthly that is less than she was paying before setting up solar. This is what we indicate by “customer care.”
From a national point of view, how can we improve access to eco-friendly enery?
From my experience, there is a vast gap in gain access to. Many of the house owners that we check out are fortunate to own a house, yet a lot of them have actually not gotten approved for solar due to numerous combined or separated factors such as subprime credit rating, lower annual family earnings, self-employment, or a lack of knowledge of readily available loan programs. These neighborhoods need more assistance and education on the value of setting up a solar system that can conserve them cash. We need to supply more people with chances to embrace renewable resource with fewer hassles.
How has your Accelerate membership assisted your service?
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 very same boat. Now I know that there is hope for minority small companies in the eco-friendly energy market.
How can potential partners do service with you?
It is necessary that we share the very same values and objective to help others, even if it implies getting out of our comfort zones. It may cost a bit more for us to do company, but its worth it in the end for our consumers. If youre willing to start there, we d enjoy to meet to go over possible partnership opportunities.
Exists anything else you want to share with ACORE members and partners?
We are really grateful for the Accelerate subscription program and for all of the chances you have supplied. I understand this is just the beginning, and we have a long road ahead of us; however, I eagerly anticipate becoming 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, considering that they are the fuel that drives the objective!
To get more information about SUNTEX, go to https://suntexllc.com/.
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In addition, even though solar energy has been around for a while, the basics of these jobs are not widely taught in school. Throughout our preliminary appointment, I kept in mind that they could just accomplish about 56% of solar energy balanced out due to their houses intake rates and shading from trees on the property. We talked about a few extra energy effectiveness upgrades to the home to decrease energy intake, which might supply a greater energy offset. Angela initially flinched at the idea of investing more cash into the house, however ultimately she called me back and said she desired to move forward with the solar and energy effectiveness upgrades. Thanks to the Air Conditioning upgrade, they have minimized their energy intake greatly, and she has a flat, foreseeable solar payment each month that is less than she was paying prior to setting up solar.