Since 1999, several widely used building energy-efficiency standards, including ASHRAE 90.1, ASHRAE 90.2, the International Energy Conservation Code and California’s Title 24 have adopted cool-roof credits or requirements. This piece reviews the technical development of cool-roof provisions in the ASHRAE 90.1, ASHRAE 90.2 and California Title 24 Standards, and discusses the treatment of cool roofs in other standards and energy-efficiency programmes. The techniques used to develop the ASHRAE and Title 24 cool-roof provisions can be used as models to address cool roofs in building energy-efficiency standards worldwide.