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Related party transactions (Details) (USD $)
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Mar. 31, 2014
sqft
company
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Mar. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2013
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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]
|
Oct. 18, 2013
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Dec. 31, 2012
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible debentures
Conversion of principal amount
|
Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible debentures
Conversion of accrued interest
|
Jan. 06, 2014
Demand notes
|
Mar. 31, 2014
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
Sublease under operating leased assets
Office space and warehouse facilities
|
Oct. 20, 2009
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Mar. 31, 2014
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Mar. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Affiliated companies
American DG Energy
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May 11, 2009
Management
|
May 11, 2009
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Mar. 31, 2014
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Management
Convertible debentures
|
Mar. 31, 2014
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 24, 2011
Management
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
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
|
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 Amount in 2012 [Member]
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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
|
Mar. 31, 2014
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
Mar. 26, 2014
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
Sep. 24, 2001
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Convertible debentures
|
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
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Dec. 31, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
American DG Energy
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Dec. 31, 2013
Michaelson Capital Special Finance Fund LP. [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Michaelson Capital Special Finance Fund LP. [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2013
Michaelson Capital Special Finance Fund LP. [Member]
Convertible debentures
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Michaelson Capital Special Finance Fund LP. [Member]
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Michaelson Capital Special Finance Fund LP. [Member]
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Chairman
GlenRose Instruments
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Dec. 31, 2013
Investor
Ilois
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Dec. 31, 2013
Investor
GlenRose Instruments
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Dec. 31, 2013
Investor
Pharos
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Dec. 31, 2013
Investor
Levitronix
|
Sep. 30, 2009
Investor, Joseph J. Ritchie [Member]
Convertible debentures
Common stock
|
Sep. 30, 2009
Investor, Joseph J. Ritchie [Member]
Convertible debentures
Conversion of principal amount
|
Sep. 30, 2009
Investor, Joseph J. Ritchie [Member]
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
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
|
Mar. 25, 2013
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
Mar. 25, 2013
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
|
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| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of affiliated companies | 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% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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% | 5.00% | 4.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Term | 3 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conversion price in usd per share | $ 1.20 | $ 1.20 | $ 1.20 | $ 2.00 | $ 4.50 | $ 3.20 | $ 0.50 | $ 5.40 | $ 1.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Issuance Cost | 140,433 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt conversion, amount converted | 90,967 | 100,000 | 6,100 | 109,033 | 72,960 | 90,967 | 1,000 | 30,000 | 14,433 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt conversion, number of shares issued | 75,806 | 85,242 | 400,000 | 185.19 | 37,028 | 170,480 | 170,480 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Officers' compensation | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Working capital line of credit with related party | 1,500,000 | 3,500,000 | 1,500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate | 1.50% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding | 1,200,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of time spent on company affairs | 50.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sublease rental | 31,446 | 36,275 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sublease operating expenses offset | 23,238 | 22,833 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquarters consisting of office and storage space (in square feet) | 35,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue from related parties | 485,414 | 225,605 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due to related party | 0 | 119,667 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Due from related party | (306,305) | (119,667) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prepayments received from related party | 827,747 | 113,384 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current portion of convertible debentures, related party | 4,367 | 6,913 | 3,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock issuable upon conversion | 555,556 | 970 | 2,161 | 555,556 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Demand notes payable and line of credit, related party | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 1,750,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Paid | 233,220 | 0 | 175,311 | 25,347 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Party Transaction, Investment in Stock | $ 2,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Party Transaction, Shares Purchased by Related Party | 444,445 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Party Transaction, Shares Purchased by Related Party, Price Per Share | $ 4.50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||