Unlock Energy Savings: Discover Apple Home’s Exciting New Management Features!

Apple didn’t announce much about its smart home tech at this year’s WWDC. However, there are exciting things happening with the Home app focused on energy management.

In a recent video on the Apple developer site, Apple introduced the EnergyKit framework. This new feature lets developers use energy data from Apple Home on iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. The goal is to help users save energy and money. For example, your thermostat might lower its heating or cooling when energy prices spike. Meanwhile, your electric vehicle (EV) could charge during off-peak hours to take advantage of lower rates.

Currently, EnergyKit is designed to work with apps for EV chargers and smart thermostats. We already see similar features in popular devices like Ecobee and Google Nest. These devices adjust their energy use based on the availability of clean energy and costs and can participate in demand-response programs.

The big picture here is that EnergyKit could pave the way for Apple Home to evolve into a home energy management system (HEMS). Such a system would give users the ability to monitor, control, and optimize their home’s energy consumption, making our lives easier and greener.

Apple has some catching up to do in this area. Other platforms, like Samsung SmartThings and Homey (owned by LG), already offer robust energy management features. Apple’s current system doesn’t support energy monitoring from connected devices. However, with Apple’s commitment to the Matter smart home standard, we could see significant changes. Matter recently expanded to include appliances and energy-hungry devices like heat pumps and electric water heaters, which could be easily integrated with Apple Home.

According to a recent report, smart home device adoption is on the rise. Over 50% of households in the U.S. have at least one smart device, and energy efficiency is a top concern for many users. Homeowners are increasingly looking for ways to manage their energy use more effectively. This shift is driven by rising energy costs and a growing awareness of environmental impact.

As more consumers seek energy-efficient solutions, Apple’s EnergyKit could be well-timed. If implemented effectively, it might not only enhance user convenience but also contribute to a more sustainable future.

For more detailed information on these developments, check out Apple’s EnergyKit documentation.

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