Apple’s EnergyKit Framework Aims to Streamline Home Energy Management

‍ Updated June 12, ​2025

Apple is making a play for smarter homes with its new EnergyKit framework.While‍ the recent⁢ WWDC keynote⁣ lacked any‍ mention ⁢of smart home initiatives, Apple quietly unveiled developments for ⁢the Home​ app‍ focused on energy management. The EnergyKit framework, detailed‍ in a ⁢video on Apple’s developer site,⁣ enables developers ‌to tap into Apple‍ Home energy data within iOS 26 ‍and iPadOS ⁣26.

The goal?⁤ to give users more ​control⁤ over their energy usage.​ EnergyKit allows ‌apps to reduce⁢ or shift electricity consumption,prioritizing cleaner or cheaper energy sources. As a notable example, a smart‌ thermostat could curb energy use during peak price‍ periods, and electric vehicle chargers could schedule charging based on predicted energy costs.

According to Apple’s documentation, ⁤EnergyKit is initially geared toward EV⁤ chargers and smart thermostat applications. Currently, products⁤ from companies like Ecobee and Google Nest already offer‍ similar capabilities, adjusting energy use based⁢ on factors ​like clean ⁤energy availability.‍ Most EV chargers⁢ also feature apps for scheduling charging based on energy data.

EnergyKit is designed​ to securely bring data​ from ‌Apple Home into manufacturer apps. This integration⁢ could pave the way for managing ⁢all⁤ these devices and functions directly ‌within ⁢Apple Home,​ potentially transforming it into a​ full-fledged home energy⁣ management system (HEMS) capable ‍of monitoring, ‍controlling, and optimizing‍ energy⁢ consumption.

Other smart home platforms, such ⁣as Samsung SmartThings with its⁤ AI Energy Mode and Homey (owned by LG), already offer similar features. ​Apple’s ⁣platform⁣ currently lacks native energy monitoring ‍for ⁣connected devices, ​putting it behind the curve.

⁢ ⁣This could lay the⁢ groundwork for Apple Home to eventually become a home energy management system

The focus on developer integration through EnergyKit suggests Apple is ⁣addressing ‌the current limitations of Apple Home, which ​lacks support for EV ​chargers and thermostat‌ energy monitoring. However, Apple’s notable involvement in the Matter smart home standard could bring broader​ device support to Apple home in the future.

matter recently expanded its support to include⁣ major appliance types​ and energy-intensive devices like heat pumps and electric water heaters. The standard also supports battery energy storage systems and solar power devices. These additions⁤ could ‍seamlessly ​integrate into ‌Apple Home via Matter, marking a natural progression for Apple’s smart home ambitions.

What’s next

The integration of Matter-compatible‍ devices and the EnergyKit framework‍ suggests Apple is positioning itself ‌to become a major player in the home energy⁤ management market. Future updates to Apple Home ‍could bring native support ‍for a⁢ wider range ⁢of energy-related devices, offering⁢ users a centralized platform for controlling their ⁢home’s energy consumption.