Thermal insulation in buildings helps save energy and improve comfort, but how it's placed and interacts with other materials isn't well understood. Walls with different insulation arrangements and materials can have varying thermal properties. Insulation and thermally massive components affect energy efficiency and how buildings respond to temperature changes. External walls are especially dynamic due to exposure to sunlight and seasonal weather. By analyzing typical wall configurations, researchers found that insulation placement and wall materials greatly impact how well a building retains heat and stays cool.