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Related party transactions (Details) (USD $)
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Mar. 31, 2014
company
sqft
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Mar. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2013
company
sqft
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2013
Office space and warehouse facilities
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Dec. 31, 2012
Office space and warehouse facilities
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Mar. 14, 2013
Prepayment from Related Party for Future Purchases [Member]
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Mar. 31, 2014
Prepayment from Related Party for Future Purchases [Member]
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Oct. 18, 2013
Convertible debentures
Common stock
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Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible debentures
Conversion of principal amount
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
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Jan. 06, 2014
Demand notes
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Demand notes
|
Mar. 31, 2014
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
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Mar. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
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Dec. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
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Dec. 31, 2012
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
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Oct. 20, 2009
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
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Mar. 31, 2014
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Mar. 31, 2014
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Mar. 31, 2014
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 24, 2011
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
May 11, 2009
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 24, 2011
Management
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
|
May 11, 2009
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
Conversion of principal amount
|
Oct. 18, 2013
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Sep. 24, 2011
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
May 11, 2009
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Oct. 18, 2013
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest in 2012
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Dec. 31, 2013
Member of board of directors
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Member of board of directors
Ilois
|
May 11, 2009
Member of board of directors
Ilois
Convertible debentures
Common stock
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Mar. 31, 2014
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
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Dec. 31, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
Mar. 26, 2014
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
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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
|
Oct. 03, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Demand notes
|
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
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Demand notes
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Demand notes
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
American DG Energy
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Dec. 31, 2013
Michaelson
|
Dec. 31, 2010
Michaelson
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Michaelson
Convertible debentures
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Dec. 31, 2013
Michaelson
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Michaelson
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Chairman
GlenRose Instruments
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Investor
Ilois
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Investor
GlenRose Instruments
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Investor
Pharos
|
Dec. 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. 24, 2001
Nia Marie Hatsopoulos
Convertible debentures
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Nia Marie Hatsopoulos
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Alexander J. Hatsopoulos
Convertible debentures
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Alexander J. Hatsopoulos
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Jan. 06, 2014
Subsequent event
Demand notes
|
Jan. 06, 2014
Revolving credit facility
|
Mar. 25, 2013
Revolving credit facility
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Dec. 31, 2013
Revolving credit facility
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
Mar. 25, 2013
Revolving credit facility
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
Jan. 06, 2014
Revolving credit facility
Subsequent event
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
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| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of affiliated companies | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party ownership percentage | 13.60% | 7.20% | 10.70% | 6.40% | 6.40% | 15.70% | 3.10% | 15.70% | 24.40% | 21.40% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from related parties | $ 485,414 | $ 225,605 | $ 758,930 | $ 3,795,666 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party transactions agreement term | 5 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party transactions agreement term, renewal period | 1 year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal amount | 330,000 | 200,000 | 100,000 | 450,000 | 300,000 | 750,000 | 250,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party debt, stated interest rate | 6.00% | 6.00% | 6.00% | 6.00% | 6.00% | 5.00% | 4.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt term | 3 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt conversion, amount converted | 90,967 | 100,000 | 6,100 | 72,959 | 109,033 | 72,960 | 90,967 | 427,432 | 72,567 | 1,000 | 30,000 | 14,433 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt conversion, number of shares issued | 75,806 | 85,242 | 400,000 | 1,000,000 | 185.19 | 37,028 | 170,480 | 170,480 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion price in usd per share | $ 1.20 | $ 1.20 | $ 1.20 | $ 1.20 | $ 1.20 | $ 2.00 | $ 2.00 | $ 4.50 | $ 3.20 | $ 0.50 | $ 2.00 | $ 5.40 | $ 1.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance cost | 140,433 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Officers' compensation | 1.00 | 1.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of time spent on company affairs | 50.00% | 50.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sublease rental | 127,784 | 173,898 | 31,446 | 36,275 | 113,784 | 158,898 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sublease operating expenses offset | 23,238 | 22,833 | 90,348 | 101,218 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquarters consisting of office and storage space (in square feet) | 35,000 | 27,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from related party | (306,305) | (119,667) | (70,811) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible debentures, related party, current | 0 | 90,967 | 4,367 | 6,913 | 3,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issuable upon conversion | 970 | 2,161 | 555,556 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of costs | 2,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares purchased by related party | 444,445 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Price per share | $ 4.50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demand notes payable, related party, current | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 0 | 1,750,000 | 1,337,500 | 1,750,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,750,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest paid on debt | 233,220 | 0 | 55,639 | 0 | 175,311 | 25,347 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Working capital line of credit with related party | 1,500,000 | 3,500,000 | 1,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable rate | 1.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount outstanding | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction | $ 827,747 | $ 113,384 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Party Transaction, Discount Rate | 6.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||