East Feliciana Parish, LA Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in East Feliciana Parish, LA?
East Feliciana Parish sits in IECC climate zone 2 (Hot-Humid) — summers that stay hot and humid while winters barely register on the energy bill. For a currently uninsulated attic, DOE and ENERGY STAR recommend building up to R-49. For an attic around 1,000 square feet, closing the gap from R-2 to R-49 costs around $2,820 and saves an estimated $873 a year — payback in roughly 3.2 years. That is a solid payback as home upgrades go.
The breakdown behind the number
Heating accounts for about $519/year of that and cooling about $354/year — East Feliciana Parish needs both. Nationally, East Feliciana Parish ranks in the 8th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, East Feliciana Parish places 80th out of 233. Against Louisiana's own average of $906/year, East Feliciana Parish runs 4% below that.
Where these numbers come from
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 1,957 HDD and 2,222 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from CLINTON 5 SE, LA US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 4.4 miles from East Feliciana Parish's center. By total degree days, East Feliciana Parish sits at the 4th percentile nationally. Its moisture regime is classified humid, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
If the attic isn't bare
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-38 runs about $1,620 for about $118/year saved — roughly 13.8 years to break even. Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Getting it done in East Feliciana Parish
Get more than one quote before committing. Attic access and any needed air sealing move the price around, and most contractors won't take a job below roughly $600 regardless of size - worth asking upfront given East Feliciana Parish's estimated $873/year on the line.
East Feliciana Parish's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed East Feliciana Parish's numbers, and where the cost assumptions come from. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.