## 4 Results and Discussion  
### Results  
#### 4.1.1 Comparison of Energy Performance: Low and High Usage of the Kindergarten  
To compare the results between the low-usage and high-usage scenarios of the building, three 25-year analyses were conducted using the VERIFY platform. The analysis examined key metrics, including electrical demand, self-consumption levels, and energy exported to the grid. Two sets of results were generated to facilitate comparison: the energy performance during the COVID-19 period (2021) and the estimated performance under stable, post-pandemic conditions (2024). The objective was to highlight differences in energy usage patterns and evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the kindergarten's energy management. Figure 2 illustrates the energy performance of the kindergarten in 2021, reflecting the low-usage conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures. The blue line illustrates the daily export of electricity to the grid, while the green line depicts the self-consumption levels within the building. During the summer months, when solar irradiance was higher, the PV system generated significantly more electricity, leading to notable peaks in energy exported to the grid. However, self-consumption levels remained consistently low throughout the year due to the building's limited operations under COVID-19 conditions. This low internal energy usage highlights the effect of restrictions, as the kindergarten was not fully utilized during this period. The consistent gap between production (export) and consumption underscores the underutilization of generated energy for internal needs, emphasizing the impact of external disruptions on energy management and, potentially, the grid. Figure 3 depicts the estimated daily energy performance of the kindergarten throughout 2024, representing high-usage conditions under stable and normal operational circumstances. The green line represents daily self-consumption levels, while the blue line indicates daily electricity export to the grid. During the winter months, when the kindergarten operates at full capacity, energy demand is higher due to heating and regular building use. The PV production during this time is primarily used for self-consumption, as shown by consistently higher green line values, while export levels to the grid remain minimal. In contrast, during the summer months, when the building is closed for school holidays, energy demand drops significantly. As a result, the PV system's output is largely exported to the grid, reflected by higher blue line peaks. Figure 2: Daily Export and Self-Consumption Patterns for Low Usage (2021). Figure 4 presents the aggregated monthly energy consumption and production patterns for the kindergarten during 2021, characterized by low usage. The blue bars represent electricity exported to the grid; the green bars indicate self-consumed electricity generated by the PV system, and the orange bars show the building's total electrical demand. Throughout this period, monthly electrical demand remained reduced and relatively stable, reflecting limited operations and lower occupancy caused by pandemic restrictions. Electricity exports fluctuated significantly, peaking during the summer months (June to August) when increased solar irradiance boosted PV production. Conversely, exports were lower in the winter months due to reduced solar production. Self-consumption levels remained consistent throughout the year, corresponding to the building's baseline energy demand, such as energy needed for maintenance systems, which persisted regardless of occupancy. The aggregated data also highlight that electricity imports occurred when PV production could not fully meet demand, even though substantial amounts of energy were exported during periods of surplus generation. Figure 5 depicts the estimated monthly energy performance of the kindergarten under normal operational conditions, simulating a fully functional year (2024) without pandemic disruptions.