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Nature of business and operations (Details) (USD $)
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0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
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May 11, 2009
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Mar. 31, 2014
segment
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Mar. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2013
segment
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Dec. 31, 2012
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May 11, 2009
Ilios
stockholder
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May 04, 2009
Ilios
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Mar. 31, 2014
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2013
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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Mar. 31, 2014
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Dec. 31, 2013
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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Mar. 31, 2014
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 31, 2013
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Mar. 31, 2014
Restricted stock
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2013
Restricted stock
Ilios
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Mar. 31, 2014
Minimum
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Mar. 31, 2014
Maximum
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| Sale of Stock By Subsidiary [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Products | $ 1,944,776 | $ 2,052,665 | $ 6,346,050 | $ 7,453,222 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | 2,270,981 | 1,993,653 | 9,503,819 | 7,800,750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | $ 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% | 65.00% | 67.40% | 63.00% | 63.00% | 67.40% | 63.70% | 63.70% | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Operating Segments | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue, Net | 4,215,757 | 4,046,318 | 15,849,869 | 15,253,972 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on Contracts | 217,000 | 300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Advertising expense | 48,439 | 29,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash, Uninsured Amount | 2,248,969 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash insured | 250,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allowance for doubtful accounts | 103,800 | 154,400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Useful life - years | 3 years | 15 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development costs reimbursed by government agencies | 67,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development expenditures | $ 203,000 | $ 161,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||