Caswell County, NC Insulation Payback
Attic insulation payback for Caswell County, NC
DOE classifies Caswell County as climate zone 4, mixed-humid — a genuine mix of cold winters and humid summers, with neither one dominating the bill. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-60. Topping up a typical 1,000-square-foot attic from bare joists (R-2) to R-60 runs an estimated $3,480, and saves about $1,232 a year in heating and cooling — a payback around 2.8 years. Hard to find a home improvement with a faster payback than this.
Heating vs. cooling in Caswell County
Of that, about $989/year comes from reduced heating and $243/year from reduced cooling load through the ceiling. Caswell County beats 33% of the counties in this 3,162-county dataset on estimated insulation savings. Among the 825 counties DOE places in zone 4, Caswell County ranks 710th. Against North Carolina's own average of $1,169/year, Caswell County runs 5% above that.
The climate data behind this
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 3,699 HDD and 1,514 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from YANCEYVILLE 4 SE, NC US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 4.9 miles from Caswell County's center. That combined heating-and-cooling load ranks Caswell County 2162nd nationally by total degree days — the 32th percentile. DOE also classifies Caswell County as moisture regime A (humid) - ask a local contractor whether that changes the vapor-barrier approach for this job.
Already have some insulation?
If Caswell County's attic already has 3-4 inches of old insulation (about R-11) rather than bare joists, the recommended target drops to R-49. That smaller top-up costs around $2,280 and saves an estimated $180/year — payback about 12.7 years. It is close - the payback only just fits a reasonable timeframe.
Quotes and materials for this job
Actual quotes will vary by attic access, existing debris, and whether the job needs air sealing first. Treat the $3,480 figure above as a planning number for Caswell County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
More on how this was built
Nothing here is a guess: the methodology guide names the DOE climate map and NOAA station data behind every number on this page. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.