They are part of a community of 1000 homes that are all zero-carbon. The Rayners are passionate about sustainability and have been involved in various environmental initiatives. They have a 10-year-old daughter, and they are keen to instill in her a love for nature and the environment. They have a garden where they grow their own food, and they have a compost heap. They also have a small pond where they keep fish.

“We’re not sure how we’re going to manage.” The couple, who have two children, are among the thousands of households in the UK facing a significant increase in their energy bills this winter. The Energy and Climate Change Committee has warned that the cost of heating homes could rise by up to £1,000 a year, with some households facing an increase of £33 a week or £150 a month.

The property portal has seen a 13% increase in searches for solar panels and a 10% increase in searches for heat pumps since the beginning of the year. The surge in interest is attributed to the government’s push for greener homes, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions.