It was not quite a coincidence that the Martin Luther King High School Campus, which hosted the citywide Green Schools NYC 2011 last month, also won the Green Cup Challenge energy reduction contest, lowering its energy consumption by more than 35%   during the month long quest to go greener. As a result, MLK and its six high schools will receive $25,000 to invest in greening the campus.

In all, $100,000 was given out to Green Cup Challenge winners to invest in their schools. The money came from DCAS, the Division of Citywide Administrative Services, which pays schools’ utility bills and stands to gain from lower energy use.

“The students and staff who have won these awards are helping lead the way toward a more energy-efficient future, and will help reduce City government’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said David Bragdon, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. Bragdon said the city has allocated $280 million to energy reduction measures, but “the active participation and operating practices of teachers, custodians, administrators and students is essential.” in making the gains stick.

A list of the other winners shows many impressive gains, for an average gain of 16% over all the 45 schools that participated actively in the contest. Schools reduced energy by turning off lights and computers when not in use, and working with custodians to look at building controls.

Green mom and Whole Living Daily blogger Francesca Olivieriposted some of the videos here that schools produced for the Green Cup Challenge. And here's a link to a winning video from IS/HS 368 In-Tech Academy in the Bronx.