The Richmond Region Energy Alliance (RREA) and the state’s Virginia Energy Sense program recently launched the Earth Day Challenge with 16 other organizations to help Richmond-area residents make their homes more energy efficient.

To enter the challenge, which runs through Earth Day on April 22, homeowners will conduct a free online energy assessment that will instantly recommend ways they can save energy at home. Participants in the Earth Day Energy Challenge will be entered into a drawing to win one of five free in-home professional energy assessments donated by RREA’s pre-qualified contractors.

Professional home energy assessments, which can cost between $300 and $400, will help identify potential energy wasters in a home — especially those in tough to spot or difficult to access areas like crawl spaces and heating and cooling ducts. The home energy assessment allows the homeowner to prioritize the most cost-effective energy improvements to lower energy bills and live in a more comfortable home.

Andy Farmer, manager of the Virginia Energy Sense program, said, “There are a lot of options to make your home more energy efficient, ranging from many low- or no-cost do-it-yourself improvements to the kinds of repairs that professional contractors can assist with and help deliver big energy savings. This challenge is a great way for Richmond residents to begin to better understand their energy usage and take steps to value their power.”

Richmond homeowners can enter the challenge at RREA’s website, http://rrea-va.org/earthday .

To be eligble, participants must be 18 years of age or older, own a home and live in the city of Richmond, Town of Ashland, or the counties of Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield, New Kent, Powhatan, Goochland or Charles City.

Area homeowners will also have the chance to participate in the challenge by visiting RREA’s booth at the Earth Day Festival in Richmond on April 21.