You can get the cork board and insulate the sides and back with that. I used blankets on the sides, back and half the front and still had problems with temps when it got cold. You don't need to simulate day and night for them. The light coming in your windows will do it naturally without wasting electricity. You need a thermostat or rheostat to regulate your uth. Usher wise it can get too hot and burn your snake or start a fire. It's happened before. I have a rheostat but don't like it much. I'm looking at getting a herpstat. The screen top you can cover 2/3rds of it but need to make sure air can circulate. I had foil under saran wrap for years and it helped some with humidity. You can get a good thermo hygrometer at Walmart for like $12. Make sure it has a probe that you can place in the warm hide. If you get a herpstat place the probe on your uth.