Portfolio Settings overview

This article explains the portfolio-level settings available in Scaler, what each setting controls, and why these settings matter for data consistency, analytics, and reporting.

Portfolio settings define shared configuration that applies across a portfolio and affects how data is aggregated for reporting, how calculations are standardized across assets, and how results appear in analytics and reports.

Because portfolio settings affect multiple assets at once, they should be reviewed carefully during onboarding.

Portfolio settings are accessed from the Data Collection Portal at the portfolio level. Only users with appropriate edit access can update portfolio settings.

The following settings should always be reviewed before large-scale data entry or reporting.

Fiscal year settings determine how annual data is grouped, which months belong to each reporting year, and how analytics and reports aggregate data.

Important: Changing fiscal year settings after data has been entered may trigger recalculations and affect analytics and reports.

The default unit system at portfolio level specifies whether reports are calculated in metric or imperial units. Because reports must be generated using one consistent unit system, all relevant data is converted to the portfolio's default unit system during report calculation.

Important: Individual data points may be entered in different units, but they are converted to the portfolio's default unit system for reporting.

Each asset also has its own asset-level unit system (metric or imperial) that determines which units apply to asset-level fields where units cannot be adjusted per entry, and how values such as floor areas are recorded for that asset.

This allows portfolios to contain assets using different unit systems while still producing consistent reports.

Note: Individual users can still choose how units are displayed in the interface via their user profile settings.

Portfolio currency applies only to specific financial fields, including: gross asset value, market value, financial data-tab fields, and loan data-tab fields.

These values must use a single portfolio-level currency because they are often converted using client-specific methodologies and data sources. To avoid imposing a standardized calculation and conversion approach, Scaler does not apply currency conversion logic to these fields.

For other inputs, cost inputs (e.g. roadmap measures) can each have their own currency, consumption data (energy, water, waste) is entered independently of portfolio currency, and currency conversion is applied automatically where relevant.

Portfolios are where all emission factors are configured for energy, waste, Scope 3 categories (such as energy purchases and losses), and other relevant emission sources. Emission factor configuration directly affects GHG calculations, intensity metrics, and analytics and reporting outputs.

Note: Emission factors can be refined over time, but should be reviewed early to ensure baseline calculations are correct.

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Portfolios are also where users define performance targets, reduction pathways, and benchmark comparisons. These settings influence analytics views, roadmap modeling, and target tracking.

Targets and benchmarks do not change underlying data, but they affect how performance is evaluated.

Portfolio settings are typically managed by ESG teams, portfolio administrators, or lead users responsible for reporting.

Property managers and external contributors usually do not manage portfolio settings.

To continue onboarding, read:

If you are preparing emissions calculations: