Purpose of this article
Learn how to export data from Scaler based on what you need: raw input data as originally entered, calculated metrics in various formats, or automated data feeds to your own systems.
When to use this guide
Use this guide when you need to:
- Export raw asset data for audits or backup purposes
- Download calculated metrics for investor reports, internal analysis, or quarterly reporting
- Understand which Data Export version matches your needs
- Set up automated data integrations using Scaler's API
Ways to export data
Scaler offers three main export methods depending on what you need:
1. Raw input data
Export unprocessed field values as originally entered — useful for audits, backups, or external processing.
Where to find it: Data Collection Portal → Portfolio → Asset List → Download
2. Calculated metrics
Export processed sustainability metrics (energy intensities, GHG emissions, CRREM alignment, etc.) in various formats.
Two access points:
Analytics Portal (recommended) — Maximum flexibility
- Custom column selection
- Multi-year exports
- Specific asset selection
- "Current View" or predefined "Data Export" packages
Data Collection Portal — Quick standard exports
- Predefined metric packages only
- Current reporting year only
- All or selected active assets
Key difference to understand:
- Current View = Download exactly what you see on screen (custom columns you've selected)
- Data Export = Download predefined metric packages (Compact, General, Extended, Energy, GHG, Water, etc.)
The sections below explain each method in detail.
3. Scaler API
Automate data feeds to your own systems for real-time integration, custom dashboards, or business intelligence tools.
Documentation: Scaler External API
1. Exporting raw input data
Raw input data includes all field values as originally entered in the Data Collection Portal — before any calculations or transformations are applied.
Where to find it:
Data Collection Portal → Portfolio → Asset List
How to export:
- Select the checkbox on the left side of the table for each asset you want to export (or check the top checkbox to select all assets)
- Click the Download button in the hover action bar that appears at the bottom of the screen
- Choose either:
- Custom selection — Select specific fields to include in the export
- All fields — Export every available field
What you'll get:
A Scaler bulk upload spreadsheet containing all selected fields and their raw values for the assets you chose. This is the same format used for bulk data uploads, making it useful for data backups, audits, or preparing data for re-upload after external processing.
2. Exporting calculated metrics
Scaler calculates hundreds of metrics from your raw input data — energy intensities, GHG emissions, water consumption, CRREM alignment, data quality scores, and more. You can export these metrics in various formats depending on your needs.
There are two ways to export calculated metrics, each with different strengths:
Analytics Portal method (recommended for flexibility)
Where to find it:
Analytics Portal → Portfolio → Asset List
This method gives you the most control:
- Select specific assets to include
- Choose which years to export (single or multiple)
- Customize exactly which metrics appear as columns
- Download either "Current View" or "Data Export"
Data Collection Portal method (faster for standard exports)
Where to find it:
Data Collection Portal → Portfolio → Reports → Data Export
This method is faster when you need:
- All or a selection of active assets for the selected reporting year
- Predefined metric packages without customization
- A quick standard export
Understanding the Analytics Portal Asset List
Before diving into export options, it's helpful to understand what the Asset List is.
The Asset List serves three purposes:
- Data viewer — An in-platform spreadsheet showing your assets and their calculated metrics
- Navigation hub — Asset names link to individual asset-level analytics dashboards
- Export tool — Download the data you're viewing or access predefined Data Export packages
Customizing columns:
By default, Scaler displays a pre-selected set of metrics as columns. Click the Customize button to:
- Add calculated metrics to the table
- Remove metrics you don't need
- Create a custom view that matches your reporting needs
Once you've customized your columns, you can download exactly what you see using the "Current View" option (explained below).
Data export options: Current View vs Data Export
When you click Download from the Analytics Portal Asset List, you'll see two options. Understanding the difference is critical:
Current View
What it does:
Downloads a spreadsheet with exactly what you see on screen — the assets you selected and the columns currently displayed in the Asset List.
When to use it:
- You've customized the columns to show exactly the metrics you need
- You need the same custom export regularly (save your column configuration and reuse it)
- You're building a specific report with a defined set of metrics
- You need data for selected assets, not all active assets
Workflow:
- Use the year dropdown at the top of the Asset List to select your reporting period
- Click Customize to choose which metrics appear as columns
- Select the assets you want using the checkboxes on the left
- Click Download → Current View
Column headers in the export will match exactly what appears in the Asset List.
Data Export (predefined packages)
What it does:
Downloads predefined packages of metrics organized by scope or granularity — regardless of which columns are currently visible in your Asset List.
When to use it:
- You need a comprehensive set of metrics without manual column selection
- You're exporting data for a specific domain (energy, GHG, water, certifications)
- You need monthly or quarterly interval data
- You want to explore what metrics are available
Choosing the right Data Export version
The Data Export offers multiple versions. Here's when to use each:
Compact
What's included:
The most commonly used calculated metrics — energy consumption, GHG emissions, water consumption, and CRREM alignment.
When to use it:
You need standard metrics for typical ESG reporting and don't require granular detail or specialized calculations.
General
What's included:
Expanded version of Compact, adding:
- Additional asset details
- More granular consumption metrics organized by floor area type
- Light calculation fields
- Data quality scoring
When to use it:
You need more detail than Compact provides but don't need every calculated variable Scaler produces.
Extended
What's included:
All calculated metrics and data values that Scaler can export.
When to use it:
- You're exploring Scaler's full metric library
- You need specialized calculations not included in Compact or General
- You're building a custom downstream analysis and aren't sure which metrics you'll need
Note: The Extended version contains hundreds of columns and can be overwhelming. If you identify specific metrics you need from Extended, consider creating a custom Current View with just those columns for future exports.
Energy / GHG / Water / Waste / Certifications
What's included:
All calculated metrics specific to the selected domain.
When to use it:
You're working on a domain-specific analysis (e.g., energy audit, carbon footprint report, water efficiency study) and only need metrics related to that area.
Monthly / Quarterly
What's included:
All consumption metrics (energy, GHG, water, waste) with monthly or quarterly intervals.
When to use it:
You need interval-level data for trend analysis, seasonal comparisons, or reporting frameworks that require sub-annual granularity.
Important: If your consumption data doesn't align exactly with calendar months or quarters, Scaler will normalize the values using a simple day-based calculation.
How consumption normalization works
If you enter consumption periods that don't align with calendar months or quarters (e.g., January 1–15 and January 16–February 15), Scaler will:
- Divide the total consumption by the number of days in the original period
- Redistribute the consumption to fit into complete calendar months or quarters
Example:
A consumption entry from January 1–15 and another from January 16–February 15 will be recalculated so all January consumption appears under "January" and all February consumption appears under "February."
This ensures consistent interval reporting but may not reflect the exact metered periods if your billing cycles don't align with calendar definitions.
Exporting from Data Collection Portal vs Analytics Portal
Both portals allow Data Export downloads, but the Analytics Portal gives you more control.
Feature | Analytics Portal | Data Collection Portal |
Asset selection | Select specific assets | Select specific assets |
Year selection | Single or multiple years | Current reporting year only |
Current View option | Yes | No |
Data Export versions | All versions available | All versions available |
Recommendation: Use the Analytics Portal for Data Export unless you specifically need a quick export of all active assets for the current reporting year.
Downloading multiple Data Export sheets
You can download a file containing multiple Data Export versions (e.g., both Energy and GHG sheets in one file). This takes longer to process but reduces the number of separate downloads.
To download multiple versions:
- Navigate to Data Export (from either portal)
- Select multiple versions using checkboxes
- Click Download
Scaler will generate a single file with each version as a separate sheet.
Common use cases
Investor reporting (not covered by framework-specific reports)
Scaler has dedicated report downloads for specific frameworks like GRESB and GRI. Use Data Export when you need calculated metrics that fall outside these standard reports.
Recommended approach:
- Identify which metrics your investors require
- Download the Extended version to see all available metrics
- Map your required metrics to Scaler's calculated variables
- Create a custom Current View with just those columns for future exports
Quarterly internal reporting
Recommended approach:
Analytics Portal → Customize columns to include metrics you report quarterly → Download Current View each quarter
If you need interval-level data, use the Quarterly Data Export version.
Energy audits
Recommended approach:
Download the Energy Data Export version to get all energy-related calculated metrics, or create a custom Current View with specific energy metrics if you don't need the full set.
3. Scaler API: Connecting Scaler to your systems
Scaler offers an outgoing API that allows you to integrate your own systems to automatically pull data from Scaler.
Documentation:
The API provides programmatic access to the same calculated metrics available through Data Export, enabling automated data pipelines, custom dashboards, or integration with business intelligence tools.
On the input side, it allows to retrieve:
- All input data for a single asset
- All input data across an entire portfolio
Responses mirror the field structure of the current Scaler Spreadsheet.
On the output side, it allows to retrieve:
- All calculated metrics for a single asset
- All calculated metrics across an entire portfolio
For API access and integration support, contact your account manager.
Troubleshooting & common mistakes
- Downloaded spreadsheet doesn't include all my assets → Check which assets you selected using the checkboxes before downloading, and verify your year selection matches the reporting period for those assets
- Columns in my Current View export don't match what I expected → Current View downloads exactly what's visible on screen. Use the Customize button to add or remove columns before downloading
- I can't find a specific metric in Compact or General exports → Try the Extended version to see all available metrics, or check if the metric is domain-specific (available in Energy, GHG, Water, or Certifications versions)
- Monthly/Quarterly export values don't match my meter readings → If your consumption periods don't align with calendar months/quarters, Scaler normalizes the data. See the "How consumption normalization works" section above for details
- I need metrics not available in any Data Export version → Some calculated metrics may only be visible in the Analytics Portal Asset List. Use Customize to add the metric as a column, then download using Current View