Union County, KY Insulation Payback
Union County, KY: what topping up your attic actually costs
Union County, Kentucky is zone 4 under DOE's climate map (Mixed-Humid), which means real heating and real cooling seasons both, roughly balanced across the year. An uninsulated attic there should be built up to 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 $1,400 a year — payback in roughly 2.5 years. That's about as fast as attic paybacks get.
The breakdown behind the number
The estimated savings split roughly $1,170/year heating, $231/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Union County's savings potential beats roughly 45 of them. Within zone 4 specifically, it ranks 392nd of 825 counties by estimated savings. Kentucky averages $1,385/year across the counties tracked here; Union County comes in 1% higher.
Where these numbers come from
Union County's climate figures — 4,374 heating and 1,437 cooling degree days a year — are read from JT MYERS LOCKS & DAM, IN US, 9.8 miles away, NOAA's nearest 1991-2020 normals station. That combined heating-and-cooling load ranks Union County 1665th nationally by total degree days — the 47th percentile. Union County falls in DOE's moisture regime A (humid), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
Already have some insulation?
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-49 needs filling, at roughly $2,280 for an estimated $204/year saved (~11.2-year payback). This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
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 $3,480 figure above as a planning number for Union County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
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.