Looking for a meaningful way to connect math to the real world? Try the Energy Bill Breakdown—a practical activity where students analyze utility bills to learn about energy usage, costs, and conservation. It’s a powerful learning opportunity that strengthens math skills while promoting student agency in identifying and solving real energy challenges.
What is the Energy Bill Breakdown?
The Energy Bill Breakdown is a classroom activity that uses real or sample utility bills to teach students how to interpret data, spot trends, and calculate energy savings. By working with authentic information, students learn how energy use translates into dollars—and how small changes can make a measurable difference.
How to Use Energy Bills for Math Exploration
Introduce the Concept
Begin by showing a sample utility bill (from the school, your home, or a mock version with private info removed). Walk students through the key components:
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Total energy used (kWh)
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Rate per kWh
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Total cost
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Find Patterns
Divide students into small groups and have them analyze the data. Ask questions like:
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Which month had the highest energy use?
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Are there any seasonal trends?
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What factors might explain the spikes in usage?
Crunch the Numbers
Challenge students with real-world math tasks, such as:
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Calculating cost per kWh
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Comparing two months of data
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Estimating how much could be saved by reducing usage by 10%
Connect to Action
Wrap up by having students brainstorm actions that could lower the energy bill (e.g., turning off lights, adjusting temperature settings). If possible, track energy use over time to see if changes make a difference.
Materials Needed
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Sample utility bills (real or mock)
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Calculators
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Graph paper or spreadsheet software
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Optional: classroom energy use data from your school’s facilities team
Extend the Lesson
Visualize the Data
Have students create graphs and charts to represent energy trends and savings potential.
School-Wide Energy Report
Let students prepare a brief “energy audit report” with findings and recommendations to share with school staff or leadership.
Did You Know?
💡 Lighting accounts for over 30% of electricity use in most U.S. schools. Teaching students to decode utility bills empowers them to spot energy waste—and take action to reduce it.
Join the Movement to Save Energy
Using energy bills as a math lesson is a fun, interactive way to integrate STEM, place-based learning, and student agency into your curriculum. By participating, students develop real-world numeracy skills while learning how energy data can drive smarter, more sustainable decisions.
Want to go even further? Join a Renew Our Schools competition today!
