This article provides a summary of Meter types and the different ways to add or manage meter and consumption data in Scaler. For detailed instructions, see the linked articles for each method.
Meter Types: Physical vs. Calculated
Physical Meter
- Represents actual hardware in the building (e.g., a utility or submeter).
- Can be used for manual data entry or linked to an API for automated consumption sync.
- When connected to an API, the
Automatedfield is set totrueand the meter is locked for manual edits.
- For on-site, solar energy, can be used to estimate consumption based on solar panel data, including
Solar panels- Total number, etc.
Calculated Meter
- Derives consumption based on existing
Physical meters; used to (de)aggregate data for Area types based on known data. - Example: Calculate “Common Area” usage by subtracting Tenant meters from Whole Building meters—useful for frameworks like GRESB.
- Must be manually set up in Scaler.
- Consumption data appears in Scaler Spreadsheet exports for visibility but cannot be manually edited.
- The
SubcategoryandConsumption formatmust match the physical meters used in its calculation.
Ways to Add Meters & Consumption
You can enter meter data in three ways:
- Direct Entry — Add meters manually in the Scaler platform.
- Spreadsheet Upload — Use the Scaler Spreadsheet for bulk uploads.
- Data Request — Request stakeholders (internal or external) to enter data. [See article → forthcoming]
Note: For automated data, you must first manually create and map the meters in Scaler. See API Meter Setup for guidance.
Additional Resources
Add Physical Meters & Consumption
Set Up Calculated Meters
Use the Data Request Tool
For requesting data entry from users without full platform access.