Fair Value Measurements - Others (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Fair Value Measurements
Long-lived assets	$ 8,635,000	$ 8,635,000
Goodwill	55,000	55,000
Investment in non-marketable equity security—Nanoteco and LumenMax	597,000	597,000
Total	9,287,000	$ 9,287,000
Weighted average cost of capital (as a percent)		13.40%
Property, plant and equipment	7,433,000	$ 7,433,000
Intangible assets	1,202,000	1,202,000
Total	8,635,000	8,635,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use		8,635,000
Goodwill impairment	55,000	55,000
Impairment of intangibles	1,202,000	$ 1,202,000	$ 0
Impairment charges	9,287,000
LED chips and LED components
Fair Value Measurements
Weighted average cost of capital (as a percent)		13.40%
Carrying Amount | LED chips and LED components
Fair Value Measurements
Long-lived assets	18,300,000	$ 18,300,000
Property, plant and equipment	16,100,000	16,100,000
Fair Value
Fair Value Measurements
Long-lived assets	9,660,000	9,660,000
Investment in non-marketable equity security—Nanoteco and LumenMax	20,000	20,000
Total	9,680,000	9,680,000
Property, plant and equipment	8,738,000	8,738,000
Intangible assets	44,000	44,000
Total	8,782,000	8,782,000
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value Measurements
Long-lived assets	9,660,000	9,660,000
Investment in non-marketable equity security—Nanoteco and LumenMax	20,000	20,000
Total	9,680,000	9,680,000
Property, plant and equipment	8,738,000	8,738,000
Intangible assets	44,000	44,000
Total	$ 8,782,000	$ 8,782,000