Tom Green County, TX Insulation Payback
Attic insulation payback for Tom Green County, TX
DOE classifies Tom Green County as climate zone 3, hot-dry — intense summer heat with low humidity, where attic radiant heat gain is the main driver. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-49. Topping up a typical 1,000-square-foot attic from bare joists (R-2) to R-49 runs an estimated $2,820, and saves about $1,009 a year in heating and cooling — a payback around 2.8 years. Hard to find a home improvement with a faster payback than this.
Heating vs. cooling in Tom Green County
Of that, about $565/year comes from reduced heating and $444/year from reduced cooling load through the ceiling. Tom Green County beats 17% of the counties in this 3,162-county dataset on estimated insulation savings. Among the 690 counties DOE places in zone 3, Tom Green County ranks 453rd. Against Texas's own average of $1,035/year, Tom Green County runs 3% below that.
The climate data behind this
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 2,130 HDD and 2,786 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from SAN ANGELO, TX US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 2.5 miles from Tom Green County's center. Combined heating and cooling load puts Tom Green County in the 23th percentile of this 3,162-county dataset. DOE also classifies Tom Green County as moisture regime B (dry) - ask a local contractor whether that changes the vapor-barrier approach for this job.
If the attic isn't bare
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-38 needs filling, at roughly $1,620 for an estimated $136/year saved (~11.9-year payback). It is close - the payback only just fits a reasonable timeframe.
Next steps for a Tom Green County attic
Real bids depend on how easy the attic is to reach and whether old insulation needs removing first, so treat $2,820 as a starting estimate for a Tom Green County job, not a quote. Expect at least a $600 minimum charge from most contractors.
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.