Winter is upon us. Unfortunately, as the temperature lowers, utility bills rise. Many homeowners look for ways to conserve energy in other areas of their house to supplement the building heat costs. The kitchen is a perfect starting point for energy conservancy. Cutting corners with energy consumption will end up cutting costs from your utility bill. Follow these steps to conserve energy (and therefore money) in your kitchen.

Warm food really hits the spot in the winter but a stove is the biggest energy user in the kitchen. Employ a microwave for anything that doesn't need to be done stovetop. Microwaves use 1/5 to 1/2 the energy that stoves require for the same job. Many people worry about microwave cooking giving their food rubbery textures or heating unevenly. Texture and even cooking are issues for stove cooking too. The solution is the same with a microwave—experiment and you'll get better at it. There are also lots of great resources for tips on microwave cooking online and with a little adaptation you'll be surprised how quickly a variety of foods can be prepared.

I spent many years of my life without a dishwasher. Now that I have one, I love it but many people do all the work even if they own a washer. The point of a dishwasher is to wash your dishes. You should not wash them beforehand. Scrap? Yes. Rinse? Maybe. But washing your dishes before you run them through the dishwasher is a waste of water, time and energy. Yes, this may mean that your dishes end-up a little cloudier and there can be food particles left after a wash. But it is much more efficient to run a wash and then spot clean a few offending items than to wash the whole load twice. Additionally, you should only run your dishwasher when it is completely full. The same amount of energy and water is used either way—don't waste it!

One-pot meals are not just for college students. Cooking with unnecessary dishes and steps requires multiple burners to be on and produces more dirty dishes. This is a huge energy waster. Delicious meals can be cooked in just one pan. Your options for one-pot cooking are diverse, as most balanced dinners can be adapted. Select a carb or starch--pasta, potatoes and rice are all great options. Then you add a protein. Seasoning and vegetables go in last. One-pot cooking is all about layers and putting items that take longer to cook on the bottom. Keep plenty of water, oil or sauce in the pan and you won't have to worry about burning. Follow this guide to think up your own one-pot creations.

Holly Lee is an avid yogi, animal lover, and vegan. She enjoys blogging on behalf of Sears and other brands she loves. Holly hates winter but enjoys wool socks, warm mugs and other comforts of home the seasons forces on her.