Indeed, aluminum cladding has been embraced by builders and consumers for its reliable performance and low-maintenance characteristics. "It's crisp, stable, and it doesn't expand and contract like other materials", says Engerman. Unfortunately, it is also a good conductor of heat and cold. To compensate, manufacturers are engineering their newest models with the highest-performing glazings, such as argon-filled low-E2, and other insulating materials. Consequently, products such as Caradco's Tradition Plus and Pella's ProLine double-hung aluminum-clad wood windows meet or exceed the DOE's tough Energy Star requirements.
