|
Related party transactions (Details) (USD $)
|
12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dec. 31, 2012
sqft
company
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Office space and warehouse facilities
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Office space and warehouse facilities
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible debentures
Conversion of principal amount
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
|
Oct. 20, 2009
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2011
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 24, 2011
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
|
May 11, 2009
Member of board of directors
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Member of board of directors
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Member of board of directors
Ilois
|
May 11, 2009
Member of board of directors
Ilois
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Dec. 31, 2012
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
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Chairman
GlenRose Instruments
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Investor
Ilois
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Investor
GlenRose Instruments
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Investor
Pharos
|
Dec. 31, 2012
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
|
|
| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of affiliated companies | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related party ownership percentage | 14.30% | 7.00% | 10.80% | 15.70% | 3.10% | 15.70% | 24.40% | 21.40% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from related parties | $ 3,795,666 | $ 713,267 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt conversion, amount converted | 100,000 | 6,100 | 72,959 | 109,033 | 90,967 | 427,432 | 72,567 | 30,000 | 14,433 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt conversion, number of shares issued | 340,960 | 400,000 | 1,000,000 | 148,111 | 170,480 | 170,480 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion price in usd per share | $ 0.30 | $ 0.30 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Officers' compensation | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of time spent on company affairs | 20.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sublease rental | 173,898 | 185,596 | 158,898 | 185,596 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sublease operating expenses offset | 101,218 | 224,700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquarters consisting of office and storage space (in square feet) | 27,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from related party | $ 70,811 | $ 299,739 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||