In 2019, University of Maryland researchers stripped lignin from wood; the resulting cooling material stayed 12°F cooler than natural wood in an Arizona test

Scientists developed engineered wood to reflect sunlight and release heat. This material stayed cooler than natural wood when exposed to sunlight. Removing lignin and preserving cellulose fibres altered its thermal properties. The treated wood could potentially reduce building cooling energy costs significantly. This innovation offers a passive approach to cooling buildings in hot climates.