How to use emissions data templates and smart upload

Last updated: 10 April 2026

Data Templates Data Uploader AI Smart Upload

The Emissions Data Templates page is an alternative to uploading data through individual tasks. It shows every GHG category available to your organisation, lets you download blank templates, and upload data directly — including a smart upload feature that auto-classifies your data. Navigate to Measure > Data Templates.

Browsing Templates

The template library lists all GHG categories. You can narrow the list using:

Filter by scope — Show only Scope 1, 2, or 3 categories
Show only material types — Toggle this to only display categories that are included in your emissions boundary. This hides categories you've excluded, so you only see what's relevant.
Search — Type a category name to find it quickly

Downloading a Template

Click Download Template on any category to get a blank spreadsheet with the correct headers and required fields. Use this to understand what data format NetNada expects, or distribute it to colleagues who need to gather data.

Uploading from the Template Library

Click Upload on any category to start the data upload workflow. Unlike uploading from a task (where the node is pre-selected), here you'll need to select the node yourself.

Click Upload on the category

The category is pre-selected. The upload workflow opens.

Select the node

Choose which facility or entity this data applies to. This step is required because you're not coming from a task.

Follow the standard upload flow

The remaining steps are identical to the Carbon Data Uploader: file upload, tab selection, column mapping, validation, and import.

Smart Upload

Smart Upload is a universal spreadsheet upload that doesn't require you to choose a category first. Upload any spreadsheet and NetNada will analyse the contents, determine which GHG category it belongs to based on the data, and recommend the correct classification.

This is useful when:

You're not sure which category the data belongs to
You're still figuring out your internal processes for data collection
You have a mixed-category spreadsheet that needs sorting

Smart Upload analyses the data against NetNada's definitions and suggests where it should belong. You can review and confirm the suggestion before the data is processed.

Templates vs. Tasks

Upload via...	When to use
Task Manager	You're working through your inventory systematically. The node and category are pre-selected.
Data Templates	You want to upload data for a specific category without navigating through tasks, or you need to download a blank template.
Smart Upload	You're not sure which category the data belongs to, or you want NetNada to classify it for you.

FAQ

Does uploading via templates update my task progress?

Yes. When you upload data via a template, the corresponding task in the Task Manager is updated automatically. The file also appears in the task's submitted data table.

What if I need a template that isn't listed?

Contact the support team to request a custom template structure. You can do this via the in-app support or by scheduling a call.

Do I need to maintain exact column header names?

Not necessarily. NetNada's AI mapping can handle different column names. However, using the exact headers from the downloaded template ensures the smoothest mapping experience.

Can I use smart upload for invoices?

Smart upload is designed for spreadsheet files. For invoices (PDFs), use the drag-and-drop upload available in specific task categories like electricity and waste.

How to upload emissions data into NetNada How to manage your emissions measurement tasks How to complete an emissions task Understanding your files and submissions