The demand for energy-efficient buildings is rapidly increasing due to growing environmental concerns and rising energy costs. Cooling requirements have become a key factor in the design of energy-efficient buildings, as they significantly affect overall energy consumption and environmental sustainability. However, energy efficiency regulations in Estonia are vague regarding the impact of façade cladding leaving a gap in understanding how façade choices affect building performance. The primary goal of this study is to examine how different façade cladding materials influence the cooling needs of residential buildings in Estonia. The test house in this study has an energy demand of 118 kWh/m2 per year, a measure that represents the total energy consumption for heating, cooling, and other residential needs. The study focused on two different types of façade cladding: black stone cladding and light wooden cladding. These materials were chosen due to their differing thermal properties and the way they interact with heat from the environment. On-site testing was conducted to gather real-world data under natural weather conditions, providing a more accurate picture of how these materials affect cooling performance. In this study, the air gaps behind stone and wood cladding were monitored to determine their impact on thermal performance. Temperature measurements were taken from buildings oriented in different cardinal directions to account for variations in solar exposure and the resulting heat load. Relative humidity was also measured. Gathered temperature were inserted to simulation in IDA ICE 4.8. The author hypothesized that the temperature beneath stone cladding would be 20% higher than exterior temperature, leading to at least a 10% increase in cooling demand. Both hypotheses were confirmed.