Graham County, KS Insulation Payback
Attic insulation payback for Graham County, KS
DOE classifies Graham County as climate zone 5, cold — a real winter that drives most of the annual energy bill here. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-60. For an attic around 1,000 square feet, closing the gap from R-2 to R-60 costs around $3,480 and saves an estimated $1,727 a year — payback in roughly 2 years. Hard to find a home improvement with a faster payback than this.
Where the savings come from
Of that, about $1,535/year comes from reduced heating and $192/year from reduced cooling load through the ceiling. Graham County beats 68% of the counties in this 3,162-county dataset on estimated insulation savings. Among the 745 counties DOE places in zone 5, Graham County ranks 428th. Against Kansas's own average of $1,594/year, Graham County runs 8% above that.
The climate data behind this
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 5,739 HDD and 1,196 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from HILL CITY 1E, KS US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 2.8 miles from Graham County's center. Combined heating and cooling load puts Graham County in the 70th percentile of this 3,162-county dataset. DOE also classifies Graham 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-49 runs about $2,280 for about $252/year saved — roughly 9.1 years to break even. It is close - the payback only just fits a reasonable timeframe.
Getting it done in Graham 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 Graham 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.