Lawmakers eye federal ‘cool roof’ incentive

A new bill introduced in Congress would create a national rebate program aimed at boosting the use of “cool roofs” across U.S. residential and commercial properties.  

What’s happening: Three Democratic lawmakers — North Carolina Rep. Valerie Foushee, Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, and California Rep. Raul Ruiz — introduced the Cool Roof Rebate Act last month, in an effort to lower home temperatures and reduce energy costs. 

• The bill, which had previously been introduced in both 2024 and 2025 but failed to move forward, would provide rebates to eligible households — determined by “exposure to extreme heat and median income of the residence’s zip code” — that install cool roof products that have been “tested and verified by the Cool Roof Ratings Council,” according to the announcement. 
• It would authorize up to $25 million in household rebates annually across all 50 states through fiscal year 2029. 

What they’re saying: “I introduced the Cool Roof Rebate Act after hearing from constituents across the district who are already struggling with high utility bills and looking for practical solutions that match the conditions they are living in today,” Congresswoman Foushee told Homepros. 

• “This legislation focuses on lowering costs for working families while also supporting good-paying jobs in construction and energy efficiency,” she added. 
• “From growing cities to rural communities, people are using more energy to stay cool, and they should have access to cost-saving, energy-efficient technologies like reflective roofing that can lower indoor temperatures and reduce energy use.” 

Why it matters: For contractors, the bill is less about messaging and more about demand generation, as a new pool of federal funds tied directly to roofing products could help drive adoption – particularly in hot weather markets. 

Between the lines: Bill Updike, director of U.S. policy and programs at the Smart Surfaces Coalition, who provided technical assistance on the bill, told Homepros that while the measure could address energy costs, it could also deliver environmental benefits. 

• “It’s quite remarkable, because you can actually cool a surface below ambient air temperature,” Updike said, while diving into some of the ultra-reflective cool roof materials becoming more prevalent across the industry.
• “So that has incredible benefits from an urban heat island perspective [and] from a global cooling perspective in terms of mitigating global warming,” he added. 

Yes, but: Passage is far from guaranteed, as federal incentives often face political headwinds — the bill has yet to come up for a vote.