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Related party transactions (Details) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mar. 31, 2013
sqft
company
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Mar. 14, 2013
Prepayment from Related Party for Future Purchases [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2013
Prepayment from Related Party for Future Purchases [Member]
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
|
Mar. 31, 2012
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
|
Oct. 20, 2009
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Mar. 31, 2012
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
May 11, 2009
Management
|
May 11, 2009
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 24, 2011
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 24, 2011
Management
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
May 11, 2009
Management
Demand notes
|
May 11, 2009
Management
Ilios
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
|
May 11, 2009
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
Conversion of principal amount
|
May 11, 2009
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Member of board of directors
American DG Energy
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Member of board of directors
Ilois
|
May 11, 2009
Member of board of directors
Ilois
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
Mar. 25, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Convertible debentures
|
May 11, 2009
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
May 11, 2009
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Convertible debentures
Conversion of principal amount
|
May 11, 2009
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Nov. 30, 2012
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Demand notes
|
Sep. 07, 2011
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Demand notes
|
Sep. 10, 2008
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Demand notes
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
American DG Energy
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Chairman
GlenRose Instruments
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Investor
Ilois
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Investor
GlenRose Instruments
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Investor
Pharos
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Investor
Levitronix
|
Sep. 30, 2009
Joseph J. Ritchie
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 30, 2009
Joseph J. Ritchie
Convertible debentures
Conversion of principal amount
|
Sep. 30, 2009
Joseph J. Ritchie
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Nia Marie Hatsopoulos
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Alexander J. Hatsopoulos
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
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| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of affiliated companies | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party ownership percentage | 14.00% | 7.00% | 10.70% | 15.70% | 2.70% | 15.70% | 24.40% | 21.40% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party transactions agreement term | 5 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party transactions agreement term, renewal period | 1 year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal amount | $ 330,000 | $ 200,000 | $ 100,000 | $ 300,000 | $ 750,000 | $ 250,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party debt, stated interest rate | 6.00% | 6.00% | 6.00% | 5.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion price in usd per share | $ 0.30 | $ 0.30 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt conversion, amount converted | 72,959 | 109,033 | 90,967 | 427,432 | 72,567 | 30,000 | 14,433 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt conversion, number of shares issued | 400,000 | 1,000,000 | 148,111 | 170,480 | 170,480 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Officers' compensation | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Working capital line of credit with related party | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of time spent on company affairs | 50.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sublease rental | 36,275 | 148,197 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sublease operating expenses offset | 22,833 | 165,755 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquarters consisting of office and storage space (in square feet) | 27,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from related parties | 225,605 | 357,360 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due to related party | 760,535 | 0 | 760,535 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from related party | 70,811 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prepayments received from related party | 827,747 | 826,822 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate on related party prepaid purchases | 6.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares of subsidiary common stock sold by the Company | 1,400,000.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary common stock sold by the Company, price in usd per share | $ 0.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extinguishment of debt, principal amount | 109,033 | 427,432 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extinguishment of debt, accrued interest | $ 163,535 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||