Apple Shares More Details on iOS 16.1 Clean Energy Charging Feature

[MacRumors]

iOS 16.1 includes a Clean Energy Charging option that is designed to allow iPhone users to cut down on their carbon footprint. Clean Energy Charging selectively charges when lower carbon emission electricity is available for those who want a greener charging method.

Apple today published a support document on Clean Energy Charging, providing more specific details on how it works, how to disable it when necessary, and which settings need to be active to get it to work.

Clean Energy Charging is limited to the United States, and it requires Location Services, System Customization, and Significant Locations to all be enabled in the System Services section of the Settings app in order to function.

It is on by default, and those who want to turn it off will need to do so by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.

When enabled, Clean Energy Charging allows the iPhone to get a forecast of carbon emissions in the nearby energy grid, using that to charge the iPhone during times of cleaner energy production.

Apple says that Clean Energy Charging works with Optimized Battery Charging to learn a user's habits, engaging only when the iPhone is charged for long periods of time, such as at home or work. It does not engage if charging habits are variable or when the user is in a new location, such as when traveling.

When Clean Energy Charging turns charging off, a notification on the Lock Screen provides details when the iPhone will be fully charged, similar to Optimized Battery Charging. Touching and holding on the notification brings up a "Charge Now" option to set the iPhone to charge the iPhone to full.

Article Link: Apple Shares More Details on iOS 16.1 Clean Energy Charging Feature

 

[Silver78]

this is the future for all batterypowered devices

 

[1557750]

I do like this feature being added.

Don’t see any reason to turn it off.

Update: it’s the Devil, I tell ya!!! Turn it off.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

How many of you have turned off that so-called “clean energy charging” feature and why? 🫣

 

[andrewhl]

Requires you to enable signifcant locations feature.... uhhh yeah no thanks

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I do like this feature being added.

Don’t see any reason to turn it off.

Maybe it’s better to turn it on? I can’t decide to whether turn it off or on.

 

[CTHarrryH]

What if they don't find any time periods which meet their criteria?

 

[RalfTheDog]

this is the future for all batterypowered devices

With any luck people will think "How much carbon will this release and what can I do to mitigate it?" Every time they so much as open a door or flip on a light.

 

[MallardDuck]

This needs to be disabled by default. I want my phone charged when it needs to be charged. If I got on a plane only to discover that it's half-dead, I'd be pissed.

 

[RalfTheDog]

Maybe it’s better to turn it on? I can’t decide to whether turn it off or on.

The benifit is minimal but the cost is zero. Why not turn it on?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

When you have the clean charging energy off. Does the Optimized Battery Charging still work?

 

[RalfTheDog]

This needs to be disabled by default. I want my phone charged when it needs to be charged. If I got on a plane only to discover that it's half-dead, I'd be pissed.

You can charge a phone on the plane.

 

[RalfTheDog]

When you have the clean charging energy off. Does the Optimized Battery Charging still work?

If it does not, it will be a radio button list. A, B or C, choose only one. If it is a checkbox, they will both work together.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The benifit is minimal but the cost is zero. Why not turn it on?

I just turned it on but I still feel weird about it. I don’t know why. I wonder if it’s sending data to Apple while you are asleep.

 

[RalfTheDog]

What if they don't find any time periods which meet their criteria?

Then it will just charge.

 

[vegetassj4]

Energy Companies Hate This One Simple Trick

 

[MallardDuck]

You can charge a phone on the plane.

Not always. My point still stands. I need my phone reliably charged, and it's unethical for apple to turn this on by default. There's any number of life/health/safety situations where someone who expects a fully charged phone, only to find a dead one instead, could suffer serious consequences. I don't disagree with the function for those interested. I disagree with the default-on.

 

[RalfTheDog]

I just turned it on but I still feel weird about it. I don’t know why. I wonder if it’s sending data to Apple while you are asleep.

The data would be, the phone is being charged. I am a privacy nut. That does not even bother me.

 

[appleguy123]

I care deeply about the future of the planet, but I’m turning this off. Only 15% of the lifetime emissions for an iPhone (from birth to the used market to the recycling robots) comes from actually using the phone. Even all of the energy ever used in an iPhone for its lifetime is 9kg of carbon (similar burning a single gallon of gasoline in your car). Reusing instead of throwing away a single plastic bottle does more for the planet than being at all inconvenienced by this.

https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/iphone/iPhone_14_Pro_PER_Sept2022.pdf

 

[Zachari]

You can charge a phone on the plane.

More like limp your phone along at 1%

 

[RalfTheDog]

Not always. My point still stands. I need my phone reliably charged, and it's unethical for apple to turn this on by default. There's any number of life/health/safety situations where someone who expects a fully charged phone, only to find a dead one instead, could suffer serious consequences. I don't disagree with the function for those interested. I disagree with the default-on.

I strongly doubt it will let the phone drop below a specific percentage. I don't know if that is half or 20%. I doubt it will be that big of a deal.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Then it will just charge.

Will it charge with optimized charging kicked in? Or straight to 100%? 🔋

 

[vegetassj4]

I just turned it on but I still feel weird about it. I don’t know why. I wonder if it’s sending data to Apple while you are asleep.

"When enabled, Clean Energy Charging allows the iPhone to get a forecast of carbon emissions in the nearby energy grid, using that to charge the iPhone during times of cleaner energy production."

It is letting the Machines know who has unplugged from the Matrix.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

I will turn this feature off. At home I’m charging my phone solely on solar energy and when I’m traveling I use solar charged powerbanks.

 

[RalfTheDog]

More like limp your phone along at 1%

The USB ports are not that bad on a jet.