The iPhone never fails to surprise with its hidden settings and configurations. Among these curious features lies one that allows the phone to reduce its environmental impact with a simple press of a button. But how is this possible?
CO2 emissions pose a significant environmental challenge, with a considerable portion attributed to energy generation from fossil fuels. Charging our iPhones requires electricity, which can contribute to pollution. In response to this concern, Apple discreetly introduced a setting that aims to address the issue in a unique and intriguing way.
The iPhone knows when less CO2 is emitted
In iOS 16.1, Apple introduced a new feature called Clean Energy Charging, currently available exclusively in the United States. The primary goal of this function is to enable your iPhone to begin charging its battery when it detects the use of renewable energy sources or sources that do not emit CO2 in the area where you are located.
The iPhone determines the availability of cleaner energy based on the energy production data, considering factors such as time and location. When the phone identifies that non-polluting energy sources are active, it initiates the charging process.
However, for this feature to work effectively, the phone needs to collect data over time and requires a stable location. So, frequent changes in location or disabling the optimized charging system may hinder the functionality of Clean Energy Charging.
If, at a particular moment, there are no renewable energy sources producing energy, a notification will appear, indicating that the phone will commence charging when the favorable conditions are met. However, if waiting is not an option, you can manually initiate charging by pressing a designated button. This innovative feature exemplifies Apple’s commitment to promoting environmentally friendly practices in their products.
How this setting is activated
To enable this feature, follow these steps: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. In this section, you will find a list of items and options:
- Maximum Battery Capacity
- Peak Performance Capability
- Optimized Battery Charging
- Charge with Clean Energy
To activate the option to charge your iPhone with non-CO2 emitting energy, simply toggle the switch in the “Charge with Clean Energy” section, and it will turn green. Please note that this functionality is currently only available for iPhones in the United States. If you try to access it on an iPhone from another country, the option will not be visible.
Additionally, certain location parameters need to be enabled for the iPhone to receive data about non-polluting energy production. There are three privacy settings that must be activated as follows:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, and turn on Location Services.
- Next, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > System Services, and turn them on.
- Finally, access Settings > Privacy & Security > System Services > Important Places, and activate this option.
By completing these steps, your iPhone will be set to benefit from Clean Energy Charging, contributing to a more environmentally friendly charging process.