Princess Banks of Henrico is the winner of the Richmond Region Energy Alliance's $10,000 Richmond Home Energy Makeover Contest, officials announced Oct. 15. Banks and her husband, along with their nine-year-old daughter, will receive energy updates to their home by mid-November, including a new heating and cooling system, added insulation and duct sealing.

“The grand prize is going to a family who will see a vast improvement in their home’s energy performance,” said Bill Greenleaf, executive director of the Richmond Region Energy Alliance. “As we promised, this family won once and they will save forever.”

“My family and I [will be] so happy to finally have some comfort in our home. We are truly blessed to be winners of this contest. Thanks to RREA… we no longer have to save to afford the cost of replacing our HVAC system and insulating the home,” Banks said.

Banks was one of more than 1,500 people who entered the Richmond Home Energy Makeover Contest, which ran from July 16 to Aug. 26, She and the other nine finalists received free energy assessments on their homes, valued at $350 each. As the winner, Banks will receive up to $10,000 in home energy upgrades.

EarthCraft Virginia, a green building certification nonprofit, performed the ten finalists' energy assessments. Carrier Corporation also sponsored the contest.

Banks entered the contest after reading about it in the Citizen.