What is Apple iPhone Clean energy charging: How does it work?
Starting iOS 16.1 Apple has included a feature called Apple iPhone Clean Energy charging. When this feature is switched on, the iPhone tries to reduce users’ carbon footprint by selectively charging when lower carbon emission electricity is available.
It is a useful feature for busy urban professionals like us who hardly find time to charge our phones during the day.
The feature is available only in the United States and is turned on by default after you update to iOS 16.1 or later. It can be switched on and off from the battery health and charging section.
Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/108068#:~:text=When%20Clean%20Energy%20Charging%20is,times%20of%20cleaner%20energy%20production.
Clean Energy Charging is aligned with Apple’s commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its charging devices and environmental responsibility.
This article delves into what this is, how it works, and its implications for sustainable technology.
Watch the video below to learn all about Apple iPhone Clean energy charging.
What is Clean Energy Charging?
Traditionally, charging devices rely on electricity from the grid regardless of how it is produced. This electricity could have been generated from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact.
Apple has revolutionized mobile phone charging by introducing Clean Energy Charging. Clean Energy Charging allows the phone to be charged using clean energy sources.
When you connect your iPhone to a charger with Clean Energy Charging enabled, the iPhone forecasts the carbon emissions in your local energy system. It utilizes that information to charge your device when cleaner energy is produced.
How Does Clean Energy Charging Work?
This feature collaborates with Optimized Battery Charging to understand your charging patterns. The feature is activated in only the areas where you spend the most time and frequently charge your iPhone over extended periods. This would primarily be your home and your workplace.
For Clean Energy Charging to work and to obtain the carbon emissions forecast for your area, a few location settings need to be enabled. If you travel or have inconsistent charging habits, the feature won’t work when you are in a new location. Apple has clarified that it does not get any location data from your iPhone to use this feature.
Apple categorically mentions the following as the settings needed for Clean Energy Charging:
I. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and make sure that Clean Energy Charging is on.
II. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and make sure that Location Services is on.
III. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services and make sure that System Customization is on.
IV. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations and make sure that Significant Locations is on.
It is only operational in areas where you spend the maximum time, such as at home or work, and during prolonged charging periods, such as nighttime. As per Apple Insider, Clean Energy Charging does not decrease the efficiency or speed of charging every time a device is plugged in, despite some claims on social media. Users can manually shut off the feature and charge the phone without using the feature.
Benefits of Clean Energy Charging
Apple has created the Apple 2030 Plan with a commitment to protecting the planet and designing products that consumers love.
Apple is focusing on using recycled and renewable materials, clean electricity, and low-carbon shipping. This will help it bring its net emissions to zero across its entire carbon footprint.
Clean Energy Charging is a step in this direction and offers several significant benefits for both the environment and consumers. These are:
- Reduced Carbon Footprint: When Clean Energy Charging is enabled, the iPhone is charged using renewable energy sources. This significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to traditional fossil fuel-based electricity generation.
- Promotion of Renewable Energy: Apple’s commitment to clean energy encourages investment in renewable energy infrastructure. This would promote the growth of renewable energy sources.
- Energy Efficiency: Apple products are designed to be energy-efficient. Clean Energy Charging is now also optimizing charging and helping improve overall energy use.
- Environmental Leadership: By leading the way in clean energy technology, Apple sets a precedent for other tech companies and industries to follow. This promotes broader adoption of sustainable practices.
- Consumer Empowerment: Clean energy charging allows urban professionals like us to make environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives. As a Reclimatize Warrior, you can adopt this feature as an easy way to live more sustainably.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Clean Energy Charging be overridden?
Yes, you can override Clean Energy Charging manually. An alert on the Lock Screen indicates when your iPhone will be fully charged when Clean Energy Charging suspends charging due to the limited availability of clean energy.
At this time you can touch and hold the notice, then select Charge Now if you need your iPhone to be fully charged without using this feature.
2. Does clean energy charging reduce charging speed?
Clean Energy Charging is only operational in areas where you spend the maximum time, such as at home or work, or during prolonged charging periods, such as nighttime. So generally speaking, you should not experience any significant difference when you are charging the phone during day-to-day use.
3. How to enable clean charging on iPhone?
The feature can be switched on and off from the battery health and charging section. You can use the following settings to switch this feature on in case it gets switched off.
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging > Clean Energy Charging > Switch on.
4. Does this use lower carbon emission electricity from the local energy grid?
Yes, the feature allows the iPhone to selectively charge when lower carbon-emission electricity is available from the local energy grid.
