Milwaukee promotes cool, reflective roofing through the Milwaukee Energy Efficiency program and the Climate and Equity Plan, but does not mandate cool roofs on private buildings beyond the Wisconsin commercial energy code.
The Wisconsin Commercial Building Code under Wis. Stat. Chapter 101 governs roofing energy performance for commercial structures, and ASHRAE 90.1 reflectivity standards apply to many flat roofs. Milwaukee layers in voluntary incentives via the Me2 program, which offers low-interest loans for energy upgrades including reflective roof coatings. The Climate and Equity Plan flags cool roofs as a heat-island mitigation tool, especially in north-side equity zones. The city does not impose a separate residential cool-roof mandate. PACE financing through Wisconsin PACE is also available for commercial properties.
There are no city penalties for choosing a dark roof; non-compliance with state commercial energy code is enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services through plan review.
Milwaukee, WI
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Milwaukee, WI
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See how Milwaukee's cool roof requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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