Ensure the window carries the label specific to desert climates. Look for a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)—ideally 0.25 or less—paired with a low U-factor.
For a home near Tempe Town Lake or on the ASU campus, a thermally broken aluminum window performs nearly as well as vinyl in terms of U-factor (insulation), while offering structural advantages vinyl cannot match. Tempe’s environment is punishing. UV radiation that degrades vinyl and paint is no match for factory-baked powder coatings on aluminum. Aluminum frames will not warp in the 115°F heat, nor will they crack or become brittle over time like vinyl can. aluminum framed windows tempe, az
While homeowners in colder climates often shun aluminum for its conductive properties, the unique environmental and architectural demands of Tempe make aluminum a surprisingly competitive, and often superior, choice. The old reputation of aluminum windows is well-known in Arizona: "They conduct heat." And historically, that was true. Old-school aluminum frames in a Tempe summer could become too hot to touch, driving up air conditioning bills as indoor cool air bled out through the frame. Ensure the window carries the label specific to