[Greenbuilding] Desert windows - fiberglass?

[Dan Johnson]

Looking for windows to put in a new house in Phoenix, with a very low
U-value (0.3 or less) to fight against 115 deg F heat.  I'm concerned
about the durability of fiberglass frames in that intense UV
environment.  In my experience, anything synthetic left in the sun
turns to powder in a few years.  Are fiberglass actually OK?  

Desert window options:
1. Fiberglass frames - UV degradation?
2. Aluminum frames - hard to find thermally broken Alu frames for
residential windows, otherwise splendid
3. Wood - forget wood in the desert. It will last a year
4. Vinyl - avoid vinyl (see dialogue elsewhere); same UV degradation
as fiberglass?

FYI: also have a good shading scheme, exterior blinds, etc.


       
____________________________________________________________________________________Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase.
http://farechase.yahoo.com/