2.4.0.84224 - Disclosure - Stock Options (Details 5)truefalsefalse1false USDfalsefalseD2012_CliffOptionsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001065860duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$1false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse1false USDtruefalse$I2012_StockOptionsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001065860instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseStock optionsus-gaap_AwardTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_StockOptionsMemberus-gaap_AwardTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0Stock options2true 4lime_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsUnrecognizedCompensationCostExpectedToBeRecognizedAbstractlime_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Unrecognized compensation expense expected to be recognized3false 5lime_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsUnrecognizedCompensationCostExpectedToBeRecognizedNextFiscalYearlime_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse373000373000USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of unrecognized cost of option awards expected to be recognized in the next fiscal year following the current fiscal year.No definition available.false220134false 5lime_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsUnrecognizedCompensationCostExpectedToBeRecognizedSecondFiscalYearlime_falsedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse103000103000USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of unrecognized cost of option awards expected to be recognized in the second fiscal year following the current fiscal year.No definition available.false220145false 5lime_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsUnrecognizedCompensationCostExpectedToBeRecognizedThirdFiscalYearlime_falsenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse10001000USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of unrecognized cost of option awards expected to be recognized in the third fiscal year following the current fiscal year.No definition available.false220156false 5us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptionsus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse477000477000USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate unrecognized cost of option awards made to employees under a stock option plan or plans, that have yet to vest.No definition available.true2Total unrecognized compensation expense7false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2false USDtruefalseD2012_CliffOptionsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001065860duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseCliff Optionsus-gaap_AwardTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldilime_CliffOptionsMemberus-gaap_AwardTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$nanafalse0Cliff Options8true 4lime_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsUnrecognizedCompensationCostExpectedToBeRecognizedAbstractlime_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Unrecognized compensation expense expected to be recognized9false 5us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptionsus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse778000778000USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate unrecognized cost of option awards made to employees under a stock option plan or plans, that have yet to vest.No definition available.true2Total unrecognized compensation expense10false 4us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1us-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse002 years 3 months 18 daysfalsefalsefalsexbrli:durationItemTypenaWeighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 false0Period for recognition of unrecognized expensefalseStock Options (Details 5) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.lime-energy.com/role/DisclosureStockOptionsDetails5110