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.
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.
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.
Developed 5 prototype iterations & built 115 heaters
Hosted 8 DIY workshops & 1 repair/upgrade event
Tested the technology in real-life
Shared our project at Maker Faire LX & Gentler Futures Festival
Learned through EDP Hope Fund & Relança-te incubation programs
Next steps:
Co-developing with students from FBAUL
Expanding our community of Citizen Scientists
Researching soft-insulation solutions for homes
Our goal:
A production-grade heater that is efficient, accessible, and certified—ready to bring warmth to more homes
Democratization of science and helping shape policies for a fair and sustainable energy transition
Thanks for your interest in the project
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