SOS HEATER
Citizen Science For Warmer Homes
Our mission
SOS Heater is a social impact initiative based in Portugal, researching low-energy heating technology and energy-efficient practices through Citizen Science to promote accessible and sustainable home heating.
Energy poverty is a silent crisis forcing millions to endure freezing homes every year, impacting physical and mental health, and increasing winter mortality rates.
The issue is more prevalent in countries with milder winters, where buildings typically lack proper thermal insulation and central heating.
Beyond the health risks, prolonged exposure to cold indoor temperatures can affect the capacity to rest, work, or study, exacerbating existing inequalities.
Conventional heating systems are energy-intensive, contributing significantly to overall energy demand. This comes at an environmental cost too.
To address these challenges, we get busy developing #fairheating
What we do
At SOS Heater, we practice Citizen Science, bringing people together to co-create accessible and sustainable heating solutions.
Driven by the social innovation lab Low-Tech 4 Impact, in collaboration with Lisbon’s Faculty of Fine Arts and the city’s Maker ecosystem, the project combines participative technological research and impact-driven methodologies to enable grassroots-powered innovation with real-world impact.
We welcome participants from diverse backgrounds and skill levels to become active contributors, empowering the initiative with their insights, surrounding knowledge and empirical testing.
Our activities include student-led design challenges, hands-on heater construction workshops and real-world technology testing.
Our approach is focused on community, collaboration, and inclusivity, providing opportunity for greater public engagement, awareness of the social and environmental challenge, and democratization of science.
We are exploring the power of community-crafted solutions to improve lives.
Our progress
Co-creating a world where a warm home is neither a luxury nor a burden on the planet.
So far, we have:
Produced 5 prototype iterations
Facilitated 7 DIY workshops, with 95 heaters built and tested by Citizen Scientists
Presented the project at Maker Faire Lisboa & Gentler Futures Festival
Challenged the creative Product Design Students from FBAUL
Completed two incubation programs—Hope Fund and Relança-te
Provided accessible heating to 95 homes in Lisbon, resulting in €23,000 in energy savings (118000 kWh) and avoiding 28 tons of CO₂ emissions
Next steps:
Co-developing with FBAUL Product Design Students
Expanding our community of Citizen Scientists with a focus on inclusivity
Researching soft-insulation solutions for homes
Our goal:
A heater that’s accessible, efficient, and certified for domestic use—ready to bring warmth to more homes
Public awareness of energy-efficient practices
Helping shape policies for a fair and sustainable energy transition
Thanks for your interest in the project
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