iOS 17 Includes 'Grid Forecast' Feature to Let You Know When 'Cleaner' Energy is Available

[MacRumors]

With the iOS 17 release candidate that came out yesterday, Apple added a new "Grid Forecast" section to the Home app. The feature is designed to use your location to tell you when "clean" energy is available to use, so you can be mindful of when you're using energy.

According to Apple, the energy sources that are used to power a home can change throughout the day. When the forecast reads "Cleaner," it means that the available energy sources may have lower carbon emissions. When it reads "Less Clean," available energy sources that are powering the grid may emit more carbon into the atmosphere.

Apple suggests that users can take advantage of this forecast to decide when to use electricity in situations where energy usage can be timed. Choosing to run the washing machine, the dryer, or the dishwasher during the "Cleaner" time will cut down on carbon emissions.

The Grid Forecast is based on each person's location, and Apple says that it is relative to the energy sources available on the grid in a particular place. According to Apple, even in areas with limited renewable generation, relatively cleaner energy may still be available. Apple does not provide information on where its energy information is sourced.

You can get to the Grid Forecast in iOS 17 by opening up the Home app and tapping on the "Energy" option at the end of the top navigation bar. You will see the current energy status and a time when it will shift. A Grid Forecast icon is also available at the top right of the Home app.

Grid Forecast is not a metric that is available in Automations, so it cannot be used to activate smart home devices at select times. The Grid Forecast is available on all Apple devices in the Home app, including iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac.

Article Link: iOS 17 Includes 'Grid Forecast' Feature to Let You Know When 'Cleaner' Energy is Available

 

[Kylo83]

really? gonna disable from day one, makes no sense to me

 

[caliguy]

For perspective, it costs less than $1/yr to charge your iPhone.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Mother Nature is pleased

 

[contacos]

I still don’t understand how this is supposed to work like how do you even know where your electricity is coming from unless you have your own solar on the roof

 

[lazyrighteye]

Mother Nature is pleased

Well played.

 

[deebinem]

*Cue pitchfork wielding hot takes

EDIT: late to the game it appears

 

[deebinem]

like how do you even know where your electricity is coming from

Magnets...

 

[iGeek2019]

Still limited to the U.S. though.

 

[iOS Geek]

I still don’t understand how this is supposed to work like how do you even know where your electricity is coming from unless you have your own solar on the roof

I’m curious as well. My area is wind, solar, and nuclear. That’s it. But according to this so far, we’re “clean” for like 1-2 hours a day.

 

[clg82]

I don't care about this "feature" just like I didn't care about the pointless rambling about being 100% carbon neutral......other companies make up for Apples neutral stance by not caring, so this is a moot point....Apple concentrate on innovating as opposed to all the benefits the state of California gives you

 

[ReturnofTheMac2023]

Will this be used in Asia and Africa, the two biggest polluters on the planet and have the nine most polluted rivers on the planet?

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Timed energy prices never benefit the customer. The prices will always be the highest when customers need power the most. I know that problem from train tickets.

 

[deebinem]

Will this be used in Asia and Africa, the two biggest polluters on the planet and have the nine most polluted rivers on the planet?

Apparently you don't know about the Gowanus Canal... sorry, I guess that's technically a creek

 

[jz0309]

Apple, IF you are THAT concerned about electricity usage STOP offering WIRELESS charging!
wireless charging is so much less energy efficient vs plugging in ...

and I almost always charge overnight when renewables (solar, wind ...) are not available ...

 

[antiprotest]

CARBON NEUTRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SpotOnT]

Still limited to the U.S. though.

Don’t worry. It doesn’t work here either.

 

[jz0309]

I’m curious as well. My area is wind, solar, and nuclear. That’s it. But according to this so far, we’re “clean” for like 1-2 hours a day.

so for example in California, there is the CA ISO and they can provide you to the minute where the power in CA is coming from, they have a public website for that.

 

[coolfactor]

I still don’t understand how this is supposed to work like how do you even know where your electricity is coming from unless you have your own solar on the roof

Apple is already invested into mapping technology, so they know where power generation is happening. Hydroelectric dams, coal furnaces (yuck!), wind, solar, nuclear. This data is available in a geographic format, so when combined with your location, they can make educated estimations. They are likely working with electrical companies to get data, too.

Our province is all hydro and wind, so it's already "clean", I'm guessing. I wonder how this feature will work for us? No forecasts at all?

 

[verniesgarden]

Magnets...

you forgot bundles of wires that those magnets interact with

 

[mknelson]

Timed energy prices never benefit the customer. The prices will always be the highest when customers need power the most. I know that problem from train tickets.

It can and does - certain solar/battery products will top up the battery when energy prices are low and release electricity when the price is higher.

Some system will turn on your EV charger when grid prices are low.

 

[jz0309]

this would be a better feature for Intel based Macs

 

[jz0309]

It can and does - certain solar/battery products will top up the battery when energy prices are low and release electricity when the price is higher.

Some system will turn on your EV charger when grid prices are low.

yup, called TOU (time of use), and all EVs offer that functionality without need a smart charger

 

[SpotOnT]

Apple is already invested into mapping technology, so they know where power generation is happening. Hydroelectric dams, coal furnaces (yuck!), wind, solar, nuclear. This data is available in a geographic format, so when combined with your location, they can make educated estimations. They are likely working with electrical companies to get data, too.

Our province is all hydro and wind, so it's already "clean", I'm guessing. I wonder how this feature will work for us? No forecasts at all?

No they are not. They do not have grid access. Power companies are not revealing privileged information.

What they are most surely doing is making a bunch of random assumptions and waving their hands.

People who know where their power comes from can tell you that what Apple tells them makes no sense.

Please report back when you try the feature. It will probably say you have 1-2 hrs of “clean” energy per day, despite being in a province with only wind and hydro.

 

[fwmireault]

really? gonna disable from day one, makes no sense to me

Of course there would be people against that