At 0 K a material may be a metal or semiconductor (or insulator). The
conduction band represents the band of empty states at 0K which are the
states which will be filled with electrons at high temperatures.
Practically there is no tangible difference between 0K and room temperature
(300K), therefore a material if it is insulator at 0K will still insulator
because as you said 2 meV is insufficient to cause transition from band to
conduction band.
At high temperatures (around 1000 K) we feel a change in electronic
properties.

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