Clark County, KS Insulation Payback
Clark County, KS: what topping up your attic actually costs
Clark County, Kansas is zone 4 under DOE's climate map (Mixed-Humid), which means a genuine mix of cold winters and humid summers, with neither one dominating the bill. An uninsulated attic there should be built up to R-60. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-60 costs roughly $3,480 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 2.3 years at an estimated $1,518/year saved. That's about as fast as attic paybacks get.
Where the savings come from
The estimated savings split roughly $1,241/year heating, $277/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Clark County's savings potential beats roughly 54 of them. Within zone 4 specifically, it ranks 145th of 825 counties by estimated savings. Kansas averages $1,594/year across the counties tracked here; Clark County comes in 5% lower.
Where these numbers come from
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 4,640 HDD and 1,727 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from ASHLAND, KS US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 3.9 miles from Clark County's center. By total degree days, Clark County sits at the 59th percentile nationally. Clark County falls in DOE's moisture regime A (humid), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
Already have some insulation?
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-49 runs about $2,280 for about $221/year saved — roughly 10.3 years to break even. This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Getting it done in Clark County
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 Clark County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
Nothing here is a guess
Every figure on this page traces to DOE/IECC climate zones and NOAA degree-day normals, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what R-value actually means explains why R-60 is the target here specifically.