Iberia Parish, LA Insulation Payback
Attic insulation payback for Iberia Parish, LA
DOE classifies Iberia Parish 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 $811 a year — payback in roughly 3.5 years. Worth doing on the numbers alone.
Where the savings come from
Of that, about $327/year comes from reduced heating and $484/year from reduced cooling load through the ceiling. Iberia Parish beats 5% of the counties in this 3,162-county dataset on estimated insulation savings. Among the 233 counties DOE places in zone 2, Iberia Parish ranks 161st. Against Louisiana's own average of $906/year, Iberia Parish runs 10% below that.
Iberia Parish's actual weather, not a national average
NOAA's SALT POINT, LA US station, 19.3 miles from Iberia Parish, supplies the 1,232 HDD and 3,040 CDD this estimate runs on. By total degree days, Iberia Parish sits at the 6th percentile nationally. DOE also classifies Iberia Parish as moisture regime A (humid) - ask a local contractor whether that changes the vapor-barrier approach for this job.
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 $109/year saved — roughly 14.8 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 Iberia Parish, 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.