SOS HEATER
Citizen Science For Warmer Homes
Our mission
SOS Heater is a social impact initiative based in Portugal, researching low-energy heating technology 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.
In the EU alone, 42 million people are affected by this issue. It is especially prevalent in countries with milder winters, where buildings often 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 research low-energy heating and energy-efficient practices.
We’re exploring how to keep people warm using just 250W — a fraction of what most portable heaters consume. The project combines participative technological research and impact-driven methodologies to enable grassroots-powered innovation.
Our activities are non-profit and run by volunteers. They include student-led design challenges, hands-on heater construction workshops, repair events, and collaborative testing in real homes.
We make our knowledge and prototypes openly available to other researchers, makers, designers, academic teams, and entrepreneurs who may want to build, test, improve, or scale low-energy solutions for energy poverty.
the lab
With a bottom-up approach, 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.
saving 0k € on energy bills and
reducing 0 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Hosted 10 DIY heater construction workshops and 3 repair events, actively involving the local community.
Co-developed with Maker spaces (Blab, Biolab, FabLab Lisboa) and academic partners (CIEBA, FBAUL, FCUL).
Designed, built, and tested 5 prototype iterations, continuously improved through participatory research and real-world use.
Strengthened the project through three incubation and acceleration programmes (Fundação Ageas, EDP Hope Fund, IMPETUS).
Presented the project and its technology at four public events, including Maker Faire Lisbon, Gentler Futures Festival, World Expo Osaka, and Designing Sustainable Futures.
Became the official heating solution at Largo Residências (Lisbon), with 90+ heaters built by residents at Jardins do Bombarda and Residências Refúgio.
Published open-source documentation, including heater construction tutorials (DIY and commercial-grade), design files, research reports, datasets, and energy-saving tips.
Raised awareness around energy efficiency and energy poverty, promoted circularity and repair culture, and contributed to the democratisation of science.
Thanks for your interest in the project
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POWERED WITH SUPPORT FROM
OUR PARTNERS, MENTORS AND FRIENDS:
