How to add emissions data manually
Last updated: 18 August 2026
Manual Entry Modelling Audit Trail
Manual entry lets you type pre-calculated emissions values straight into NetNada instead of uploading a file. Access it via Measure > Modelling on the sidebar. Each entry you save is distributed into monthly records across the date range you give it, so it sits alongside your uploaded data on dashboards and in the audit trail.
In this article, you'll learn how to:
- Decide when manual entry beats a file upload
- Fill in the general information and attach evidence
- Add one or more emission entries
- Save your submission, then process it
- Find your manual entries afterwards
When to Use Manual Entry
The data uploader is the right tool for transaction-level records — hundreds of rows from an accounting export or a stack of bills. Manual entry is better when:
- You have only a few records — a handful of figures doesn't justify building a spreadsheet
- The value is already calculated — consultant reports, historical inventories, or figures from a previous platform arrive as final tonnes of CO2e, not raw activity data
- It's a one-off event — a single conference, relocation, or ad-hoc purchase that won't recur
Manual entries are recorded as final emissions values in tonnes of CO2e (tCO2e) — NetNada does not recalculate them from activity data. If you have raw quantities like litres of fuel or kWh of electricity, upload them through the data uploader instead so NetNada applies the emission factors for you.
Creating a Manual Submission
1
Select the organisational entity
In the General Information section, choose the node — the facility or entity — this data belongs to. This is required before you can save.
2
Add notes and evidence
Use the Notes / Evidence Link field to describe where the figures came from — for example, "Data from FY25 Sustainability Report, pg. 15". This description appears in the audit table. Then drag and drop supporting documents — the original reports, spreadsheets, or PDFs — into Evidence / Supporting Documents. You can attach multiple files.
3
Fill in each emission entry
For every entry, provide a supplier name (optional), the GHG Category (shown with its Scope, e.g. "Scope 2: Purchased Electricity"), the Emissions Value as a positive number in tCO2e, and a Start Date. The end date is optional — leave it blank for a single-month entry, or set it to spread the value across the period.
4
Add more entries if needed
One submission can hold several entries — for example, electricity and business travel figures from the same consultant report. Add entries as needed and remove any you don't want with the bin icon.
5
Save the submission
Click save. NetNada validates your entries — any problems are marked in red on the affected fields — and confirms the submission is saved and ready to be processed.
6
Process the submission
A confirmation banner appears with a Process Submission button. Click it to send the entries for processing; the data will appear on your dashboard shortly, and the form resets for your next submission.
Saving and processing are deliberately separate steps. Once saved, the form locks so nothing changes between your review and processing — a submission is never processed until you explicitly click Process Submission.
Where Your Entries Appear
Once processed, each entry is distributed into monthly records across its date range and flows into your dashboards like any other data. Your notes and attached evidence stay linked to the record in the audit table, so an auditor can trace every manually entered figure back to its source document.
Attach the original calculation file every time, even when it feels obvious. Twelve months later, a bare number with no evidence is the hardest thing in your inventory to defend.
FAQ
Why are some GHG categories greyed out in the dropdown?
Category availability depends on the type of node you selected — not every category applies to every kind of entity. If you change the node after selecting categories, any entries with categories that no longer apply are cleared so you can re-select.
Can I enter values in kilograms of CO2e instead of tonnes?
No — manual entries are recorded in tonnes of CO2e (tCO2e). Convert kilograms by dividing by 1,000 before entering the value.
What happens if I leave the end date blank?
The entry is treated as covering just its start date. Set an end date when the figure spans a period — an annual total entered across a full year is distributed into monthly records, rather than landing entirely in one month.
Can I edit a submission after saving it?
Once saved, the form locks while the submission awaits processing. If you spot an error before processing, reset the form and re-enter the data rather than processing a figure you know is wrong.
Will my auditor be able to trace manual entries?
Yes. Your notes description appears in the audit table, and attached evidence stays linked to the record — which is exactly why attaching the original calculation source is worth the extra minute.
Troubleshooting
"An organisational entity must be selected"
You tried to save without choosing a node in the General Information section. Select the facility or entity the data belongs to, then save again.
Fields marked in red after saving
Validation failed on those entries. Common causes: no GHG category selected, an emissions value that is zero or negative, a missing start date, or an end date earlier than the start date.
Evidence file failed to upload
The file didn't reach storage — usually a connection issue. Try the file again; other files in the same batch are unaffected, and you can keep adding evidence until you save.