Goliad County, TX Insulation Payback
Attic insulation payback for Goliad County, TX
DOE classifies Goliad County as climate zone 2, hot-humid — summers that stay hot and humid while winters barely register on the energy bill. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is 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 $829 a year — payback in roughly 3.4 years. Worth doing on the numbers alone.
Heating vs. cooling in Goliad County
Of that, about $308/year comes from reduced heating and $521/year from reduced cooling load through the ceiling. Goliad County beats 5% of the counties in this 3,162-county dataset on estimated insulation savings. Among the 233 counties DOE places in zone 2, Goliad County ranks 140th. Against Texas's own average of $1,035/year, Goliad County runs 20% below that.
Where these numbers come from
NOAA's GOLIAD, TX US station, 2.8 miles from Goliad County, supplies the 1,162 HDD and 3,270 CDD this estimate runs on. Combined heating and cooling load puts Goliad County in the 9th percentile of this 3,162-county dataset. DOE also classifies Goliad County as moisture regime A (humid) - ask a local contractor whether that changes the vapor-barrier approach for this job.
Already have some insulation?
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-38 runs about $1,620 for about $112/year saved — roughly 14.5 years to break even. 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 $2,820 figure above as a planning number for Goliad 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.