There are three different ways to add schools to the START Program: Importing ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® files, importing Maalka Site Template files, or manually entering schools directly into the system.
1. Portfolio Manager files - If a district collects school information using ENERGY STAR Portfolio manager, you can download your school data from the Portfolio Manager dashboard and import that file into Maalka.
2. Maalka Site Template - This is a multiple tab Excel document that is set up with all the fields needed for filling out information about your schools. Once this is completed, you can import the entire district or districts directly into Maalka. Contact support@maalka.com to receive a Maalka Site Template.
3. Manual Entry - You can fill out information manually for each school once you are logged into Maalka. You can manually add districts or other groups, and organize your schools into these groups.
If your district has an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account, you can download your school data from the dashboard and import it into the START program. Maalka will use the information from the file to create a page for each school.
To download the Portfolio Manager Excel file, login or have someone else login to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. On the dashboard, you will see an option to "Download your entire portfolio to Excel." It may take a few minutes for the file to export.
This option will create an Excel file with data for every building inside your Portfolio Manager account. If you want to include only certain buildings and portfolios, or do not want to include all types of data, you can choose the "custom download" option. This will allow you to edit the type of information that is included in your file. Make your edits here and click "Download File" in the green box.
When the file is opened in Excel, it should look similar to the image below. You can edit the information inside a cell, but it is recommended not to change any of the column titles or tab names. For more information on how to use Energy Star Portfolio Manager, go here.
The Maalka Site Template is an Excel spreadsheet template that has been set up with all the fields needed to import your buildings into the Maalka application. This is ideal for users who are comfortable using a spreadsheet to enter data and do not have access to Portfolio Manager. If you do not have the Maalka Site Template, you can request one.
There are some instructions printed on the first tab of the Excel file. Make sure to read over this before you begin entering your data. The information in this spreadsheet will be used to create each school's START page and school profile, which can later be managed and edited by the school's START contact or the district administrator.
For the START Program, you only need to fill out the required columns in the Properties tab. Information about property use, energy use, and other information can be completed if you wish to use the Maalka program to track your schools' energy consumption or other data.
In the Maalka Site Template, each row represents one school. The first column is the name of a school, as it will appear in the START program. Keep in mind, for this document to import properly, each school must have a unique name. You must also make sure to fill out all the required fields - these columns are highlighted in green. Other information such as Emissions Region, Construction Year etc., are optional and can be added after the site is created in Maalka (if you wish to track this information).
If you have schools that are in multiple districts, one optional column that you might consider filling out is the Groups column. This column will determine which district each school will be placed into. If your file contains schools that fall into only one district, you can skip this step and select or create a district during the upload process.
Save the file when you are done filling out the template. Your file should be ready to import.
Once your upload file is prepared, you can use it to create schools and districts in the START Program. To upload a file, login to Maalka, and select the gear icon from the top black bar, then select Import Data, the first option on the list.
It is important to choose the correct file type for your import. If you are using a Portfolio Manager file, select, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Export (not Report) from the list.
If you are using a Maalka Site Template file, select, Maalka Site Template from the list.
Now you can choose which groups (districts) to which you would like to add your schools. If you have already filled out the Groups column in the Maalka Site Template, or if you would like to create and organize your districts later, leave this section blank. If you want to create a new district, you can type in the name of the district here. You can also add your schools to multiple districts, if needed,
Next, select the file you would like to import. The name of the file will appear next to the Select File button after it is chosen.
Click Import. It may take a few minutes for the import to complete. Once it is done, you will be returned to the START program. If you are not already in the correct district, you can find the district you would like to view from the District dropdown.
If your file did not upload correctly, or if you encounter any difficulties during this process, contact support@maalka.com for help with your import.
