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Nature of business and operations (Details) (USD $)
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0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | ||||||||||
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May 11, 2009
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Dec. 31, 2012
segment
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May 11, 2009
Ilios
stockholder
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May 04, 2009
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2011
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2010
Ilios
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Jan. 19, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Jul. 24, 2009
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Dec. 28, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 29, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Jun. 03, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 31, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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| Sale of Stock By Subsidiary [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||
| Investment in subsidiary | $ 8,400 | ||||||||||||||
| Number of shares of subsidiary common stock received by the Company | 8,400,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Number of shares of subsidiary common stock sold by the Company | 1,400,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary common stock sold by the Company, price in usd per share | $ 0.50 | ||||||||||||||
| Number of stockholders who purchased the subsidiary shares | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Extinguishment of demand notes payable, convertible debentures and accrued interest | 700,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary sale of stock, shares | 1,000,000 | 2,710,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 500,000 | ||||||||||
| Subsidiary sale of stock, price in usd per share | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | ||||||||
| Proceeds received by subsidiary for issuance of stock | $ 500,000 | $ 1,352,500 | $ 500,000 | $ 500,000 | $ 250,000 | ||||||||||
| The Company's ownership percentage in subsidiary | 65.00% | 67.40% | 63.00% | ||||||||||||
| Number of Operating Segments | 1 | ||||||||||||||