Fayette County, WV Insulation Payback
Fayette County, WV: what topping up your attic actually costs
DOE classifies Fayette County as climate zone 5, cold — winters that dominate the energy bill, with cooling a minor factor. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is 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 $1,491/year saved. That's about as fast as attic paybacks get.
Heating vs. cooling in Fayette County
The estimated savings split roughly $1,388/year heating, $103/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Fayette County's savings potential beats roughly 52 of them. Within zone 5 specifically, it ranks 727th of 745 counties by estimated savings. West Virginia averages $1,526/year across the counties tracked here; Fayette County comes in 2% lower.
Where these numbers come from
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 5,192 HDD and 639 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from OAK HILL, WV US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 5.4 miles from Fayette County's center. By total degree days, Fayette County sits at the 48th percentile nationally. Fayette County falls in DOE's moisture regime A (humid), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
The smaller top-up scenario
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-49 runs about $2,280 for about $217/year saved — roughly 10.5 years to break even. This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Next steps for a Fayette County attic
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 Fayette County's estimated $1,491/year on the line.
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.