Cool Roofs

Cool roofs can save money several ways, including energy savings, rebates and incentives, HVAC equipment downsizing, and extended roof lifetime.

Energy Star® Cool Roof Coatings

Americans spend about $40 billion annually to air condition buildings - sixth of all electricity generated in this country.

A cool roof is one that has been designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Nearly any type of building can benefit from a cool roof, but consider the climate and other factors before deciding to install one.

Just as wearing light-colored clothing can help keep you cool on a sunny day, cool roofs material that is designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Standard or dark roofs can reach temperatures of 150°F or more in the summer sun. A cool roof under the same conditions could stay more than 50°F cooler and save energy and money by using less air conditioning.

Building Benefits

Reducing energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs.

Improving indoor comfort for spaces that are not air conditioned, such as garages or covered patios.

Tests show energy costs are observably lower when the attic is sealed.

Community Benefits

Reduce local air temperatures (sometimes referred to as the urban heat island effect).

Lower peak electricity demand, which can help prevent power outages.

Reduce power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury, by reducing cooling energy use in buildings.

What is a cool roof?

A high solar reflectance (albedo) is the most important characteristic of a cool roof as it helps to reflect sunlight and heat away from a building, reducing roof temperatures. A high thermal emittance also plays a role, particularly in climates that are warm and sunny. Together, these properties help roofs to absorb less heat and stay up to 50-60°F 10-20°C) cooler than conventional materials during peak summer weather.

Building owners and roofing contractors have used cool roofing products for more than 30 years on commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. They may be installed on low-slope roofs (such as the flat or gently sloping roofs typically found on commercial, industrial, and office buildings) or the steep-sloped roofs used in many residences and retail buildings.

Through the ENERGY STAR program, EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) help consumers and other purchasers identify the most energy-efficient roofing products. Roofing materials with the ENERGY STAR label have met minimum solar reflectance and reliability criteria.

Based on 2016 data from more than 150 ENERGY STAR partners, shipments of cool roof products have grown to represent more than 25 percent of these manufacturers' commercial roof products and roughly 10 percent of their residential roof products.