Climate zone 5A: cool-humid
The Great Lakes, the lower Midwest and much of New England and New York: cold winters and humid summers.
Zone 5A covers 638 counties in 22 states, home to about 70,480,531 people (FEMA NRI population). ENERGY STAR’s target for an uninsulated attic here is R60; with 3–4 inches already in place, add to R49.
Insulation targets for zone 5A
| Where | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Attic, uninsulated | R60 |
| Attic, 3–4 inches already | R49 |
| Floor over unheated space | R30 |
| Walls | When siding is removed: blow insulation into empty cavities and add R5 to R10 insulative sheathing; on an insulated 2x4 wall, add R10 sheathing. |
| Basement or crawlspace walls | Add R15 insulative wall sheathing or an R19 batt. |
Homeowner retrofit guidance, not your local code. Your jurisdiction may enforce an older or amended IECC; ask the building department before a permit job.
What it means for upkeep
Most zone 5A counties fall in the cold Building America region. Heating season dominates. Freeze protection, ice dams and furnace care are the big-ticket risks.
The “A” (moist) regime means humidity drives much of the care: drains, dehumidifying and keeping crawlspaces and basements dry.
Largest counties in zone 5A
States in this zone: Nebraska (93), Iowa (84), Ohio (64), Illinois (58), Pennsylvania (53), Indiana (47), Michigan (37), New York (36), Wisconsin (30), Missouri (26), West Virginia (19), South Dakota (18), Kansas (18), Massachusetts (14), Connecticut (9), New Jersey (8), Rhode Island (5), New Hampshire (5), North Carolina (5), Virginia (4), Minnesota (3), Maryland (2).