Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Estimates include, but are not limited to, the establishment of reserves for accounts receivable, sales returns, inventory obsolescence and warranty claims; the useful lives for property, equipment, and intangible assets; revenues recognized on a percentage-of-completion basis; and stock-based compensation.  In addition, estimates and assumptions associated with the determination of the fair value of financial instruments and evaluation of goodwill and long-lived assets for impairment requires considerable judgment.  Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material.

Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified within the Consolidated Financial Statements (“financial statements”), and related notes thereto, to be consistent with the current year presentation.

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, Stones River Companies, LLC (“SRC”) in Nashville, Tennessee, and Crescent Lighting Limited (“CLL”) located in the United Kingdom.  All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Liquidity Disclosure [Policy Text Block]

Going Concern

The Company has experienced net losses of $5.7 million, $6.1 million and $8.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  As of December 31, 2012, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $80.6 million.  Although management continues to address many of the legacy issues that have historically burdened the Company’s financial performance, the Company still faces challenges in order to reach profitability.  In order for the Company to attain profitability and growth, we will need to improve gross margins, successfully execute our marketing and sales plans for our turnkey energy-efficient solutions business, receive additional orders on and fulfill the $23.1 million U.S. Navy supply contract, develop new technologies that result in sustainable product lines, continue our cost reduction efforts throughout the Company, and continue to improve our supply chain performance.

The Company’s independent public accounting firm has issued an opinion in connection with the Company’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K raising substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.  This opinion stems from the Company’s historically poor operating performance and the Company’s historical inability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet obligations and sustain operations without obtaining additional external financing.  The Company remains optimistic about obtaining the funding necessary to continue as a going concern, however, there can be no assurances that this objective will be successful.  As such, the Company continues to review and pursue selected external funding sources, if necessary, to execute these objectives including, but not limited to, the following:

· obtain financing from traditional and non-traditional investment capital organizations or individuals,

· potential sale or divestiture of one or more operating units, and

· obtain funding from the sale of common stock or other equity or debt instruments.

Obtaining financing through the above-mentioned mechanisms contains risks, including:

· loans or other debt instruments may have terms and/or conditions, such as interest rate, restrictive covenants, and control or revocation provisions, which are not acceptable to management or the Board of Directors,

· the current environment in capital markets combined with the Company’s capital constraints may prevent the Company from being able to obtain any debt financing,

· financing may not be available for parties interested in pursuing the acquisition of one or more operating units of the Company, and

· additional equity financing may not be available to the Company in the current capital environment and could lead to further dilution of shareholder value for current shareholders of record.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when it is realized or realizable, has been earned, and when all of the following has occurred:

· persuasive evidence or an arrangement exists (e.g., a sales order, a purchase order, or a sales agreement),

· shipment has occurred, with the standard shipping term being F.O.B. ship point, or services provided on a proportional performance basis or installation have been completed,

· price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and

· collectability is reasonably assured.

Revenues from the Company’s products segmentbusiness are generally recognized upon shipping based upon the following:

· all sales made by the Company to its customer base are non-contingent, meaning that they are not tied to that customer’s resale of products,

· standard terms of sale contain shipping terms of F.O.B. ship point, meaning that title and risk of loss is transferred when shipping occurs, and

· there are no automatic return provisions that allow the customer to return the product in the event that the product does not sell within a defined timeframe.

Revenues and profits from the Company’s solutions segment are generally recognized by applying percentage-of-completion for the period to the estimated profits for the respective contracts.  Percentage-of-completion is determined by relating the actual cost of the work performed to date to the current estimated total cost of the respective contracts.  When the estimate on a contract indicates a loss, the Company’s policy is to record the entire loss during the accounting period in which it is estimable.  In the ordinary course of business, at a minimum on a quarterly basis, the Company prepares updated estimates of the total forecasted revenue, cost and profit or loss for each contract.  The cumulative effect of revisions in estimates of the total forecasted revenue and costs during the course of the work is reflected in the accounting period in which the facts that caused the revision become known.  The financial impact of these revisions to any one contract is a function of both the amount of the revision and the percentage-of- completion of the contract.  Revenues from the Company’s solutions segment will generally be larger contracts and may range from three to eighteen months in duration.

In accordance with normal practices in the industry, the Company includes in current assets and current liabilities amounts related to contracts realizable and payable.  Billings in excess of costs represent the excess of contract billings to date over the amount of contract costs and profits (or contract revenue) recognized to date on a percentage-of-completion basis.  Costs in excess of billings represent the excess of contract costs and profits (or contract revenue) recognized to date on the percentage-of-completion basis over the amount of contract billings to date on the remaining contracts.  See Note 7, Contracts in Progress, for additional information.

Revenues from research & development contracts are recognized primarily on the percentage-of-completion method of accounting.  Deferred revenue is recorded for the excess of contract billings over the amount of contract costs and profits.  Costs in excess of billings, included in prepaid and other assets, are recorded for contract costs in excess of contract billings.

The Company warrants its products against defects or workmanship issues.   It sets up allowances for estimated returns, discounts, and warranties upon recognition of revenue, and these allowances are adjusted periodically to reflect actual and anticipated returns, discounts, and warranty expenses.  These allowances are based on past history and historical trends, and contractual terms.  Distributor’s obligation to the Company is not contingent upon the resale of its products and as such does not prohibit revenue recognition.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company has $1.1 million in cash on deposit with financial institutions in the United States as of December 31, 2012, of which $252 thousand is designated as restricted cash and relates to funds received from a grant from/for a branch of the United States government.  The remaining cash of $97 thousand is on deposit with a European bank in the United Kingdom.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories

The Company states inventories at the lower of standard cost (which approximates actual cost determined using the first-in-first-out method) or market.  The Company establishes provisions for excess and obsolete inventories after evaluation of historical sales, current economic trends, forecasted sales, product lifecycles, and current inventory levels.  Charges to cost of sales for excess and obsolete inventories amounted to $217 thousand, $236 thousand and $295 thousand in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts Receivable

The Company’s customers currently are concentrated in the United States and Europe.  In the normal course of business, the Company extends unsecured credit to its customers related to the sale of its services and products.  Typical credit terms require payment within thirty days from the date of delivery or service.  The Company evaluates and monitors the creditworthiness of each customer on a case-by-case basis.  The Company also provides allowances for sales returns and doubtful accounts based on its continuing evaluation of its customers’ ongoing requirements and credit risk.  The Company writes-off accounts receivable when management deems that they have become uncollectible and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts.  The Company does not generally require collateral from its customers.

Retainage Receivable

The Company’s solutions segment sales are normally subject to a holdback of a percentage of the sale as retainage.  This holdback is recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as “Retainage receivable.”  Retainage is a portion of the total bid price of a project that is held back by the customer until the project is complete and functioning satisfactorily according to the contract terms.  Retainage percentages typically range from 5% to 10% and are collected anywhere from three to eighteen months from the inception of the project.  For the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had retainage receivable from its customers totaling $634 thousand and $474 thousand, respectively.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

As part of the process of preparing its financial statements, the Company estimates its income tax liability in each of the jurisdictions in which it does business.  This process involves estimating the Company’s actual current tax expense together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as deferred revenues, for tax and accounting purposes.  These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The Company then assesses the likelihood that these deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent to which the Company believes that recovery is more likely than not, or is unknown, the Company establishes a valuation allowance.

Significant management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against such deferred tax assets.  At December 31, 2012, the Company has a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets in the United States due to uncertainties related to its ability to utilize those deferred tax assets, primarily consisting of certain net operating losses carried forward. The valuation allowance is based on estimates of taxable income by jurisdiction and the periods over which its deferred tax assets could be recoverable.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company has a net operating loss carry-forward of approximately $70.7 million for federal, state and local income tax purposes. If not utilized, these carry-forwards will begin to expire in 2021 for federal and have begun to expire for state and local purposes.  Due to changes in the Company’s capital structure, the net operating loss carry-forward available to the Company in future years to offset future taxable liabilities may be limited under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”).  Management is currently reviewing the rules under this section of the Code, but believes that the limitation on the Company’s net operating loss carry-forward may be significant.  Please refer to Note 11, Income taxes, for additional information.

Repurchase Agreements, Collateral, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Collateralized Assets

The Company maintains $1.0 million of cash collateral related to the Company’s surety bonding program associated with SRC.  This cash is pledged to the surety carrier until which time the Company is able to provide sufficient alternative means of collateralization satisfactory to the surety carrier.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short maturities.  Based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms, the carrying value of long-term debt obligations also approximates fair value.

Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Long-Lived Assets Property and equipment is stated at cost and include expenditures for additions and major improvements.Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred.We use the straight-line method of depreciation over their estimated useful lives of the related assets (generally two to fifteen years) for financial reporting purposes.Accelerated methods of depreciation are used for federal income tax purposes.When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.Refer to Note 4, Property and Equipment, for additional information. The Company classifies intangible assets into two categories: (1) intangible assets with definite lives subject to amortization, and (2) goodwill. We determine the useful lives of our identifiable intangible assets after considering the specific facts and circumstances related to each intangible asset. Factors we consider when determining useful lives include the contractual term of any agreement related to the asset, the historical performance of the asset, our long-term strategy for using the asset, any laws or other local regulations which could impact the useful life of the asset, and other economic factors, including competition and specific market conditions. Intangible assets that are deemed to have definite lives are amortized, on a straight-line basis or other method which best approximates cash flows, over their useful lives, ranging from 5 to 10 years.Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in a business acquisition.Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information. Long-lived assets, other than goodwill, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that would result in an impairment review primarily include operations reporting losses, a significant change in the use of an asset, or the planned disposal or sale of the asset.The asset would be considered impaired when the future net undiscounted cash flows generated by the asset are less than its carrying value.An impairment loss would be recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value, as determined by quoted market prices (if available) or the present value of expected future cash flows. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment at least annually using the projected present value of future cash flows of the reporting unit, taking into account historical performance.A significant amount of judgment is required in estimating fair value of the reporting unit.Based on historical losses incurred, it was determined that goodwill was impaired, and in 2012, we wrote off the entire $672 thousand balance of goodwill, which resulted from our 2009 acquisition of SRC, as a result of our evaluation.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Certain Risks and Concentrations

The Company sells its products and solutions services through a combination of direct sales employees, independent sales representatives, and various distributors in different geographic markets throughout the world.  The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral.  Although the Company maintains allowances for potential credit losses that it believes to be adequate, a payment default on a significant sale could materially and adversely affect its operating results and financial condition.

At December 31, 2012 and 2011, four customers accounted for 75% and 44% of net accounts receivable, including retainage receivable, respectively.  For 2012 and 2011, four customers accounted for 42% and 36% of net sales, respectively.  In 2010, two customers accounted for 36% of net sales.

The Company requires substantial amounts of purchased materials from selected vendors.  With specific materials, the Company purchases 100% of its requirement from a single vendor.  Substantially all of the materials the Company requires are in adequate supply.   However, the availability and costs of materials may be subject to change due to, among other things, new laws or regulations, suppliers’ allocation to other purchasers, interruptions in production by suppliers, and changes in exchange rates and worldwide price and demand levels.  The Company’s inability to obtain adequate supplies of materials for its products at favorable prices could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, or results of operations by decreasing the Company’s profit margins and by hindering its ability to deliver products to its customers on a timely basis.

Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research and Development

Research and development expenses include salaries, contractor and consulting fees, supplies and materials, as well as costs related to other overhead items such as depreciation and facilities costs.  Research and development costs are expensed as they are incurred.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net Loss Per Share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.  The effect of common stock equivalents is not considered as it would be anti-dilutive.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has recognized compensation expense based on the estimated grant date fair value method under the authoritative guidance.  Management applies the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options and apply judgment in estimating key assumptions that are important elements of the model in expense recognition.  These elements include the expected life of the option, the expected stock-price volatility, and expected forfeiture rates.   See Note 10, Shareholders’ Equity, for additional information.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company’s international subsidiary uses its local currency as its functional currency.  Assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and income and expense accounts are translated at average exchange rates during the year.  Resulting translation adjustments are recorded directly to “Accumulated other comprehensive income" within shareholders’ equity.  Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included as a component of “Other (expense)/income”.  Gains and losses from foreign currency translation are included as a separate component of “Other comprehensive loss” within the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Expenses

The Company expenses the costs of advertising, which consists of costs for the placement of advertisements in various media. Advertising expenses were $289 thousand, $273 thousand and $206 thousand for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Standard Product Warranty, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Product Warranties

The Company warrants finished goods against defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for periods generally between one and five years.   Settlement costs consist of actual amounts expensed for warranty services which are largely a result of third-party service calls, and the costs of replacement products.  A liability for the estimated future costs under product warranties is maintained for products outstanding under warranty and is included in “Accrued liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The warranty activity for the respective years is as follows (in thousands):

	Year ended December 31,
	2012			2011
Balance at the beginning of the year	$	100		$	126
Accruals for warranties issued		143			44
Settlements made during the year (in cash or in kind)		(84	)		(70	)
Balance at the end of the year	$	159		$	100

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Standards and Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement, amending ASC Topic 820, which eliminates terminology differences between U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) on the measurement of fair value and related fair value disclosures. While largely consistent with existing fair value measurement principles and disclosures, the changes were made as part of the continuing efforts to converge GAAP and IFRS. The adoption of this guidance was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and its adoption did not have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income, amending ASC Topic 220.  Under ASU 2011-05, an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements.  The guidance was issued to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  Its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other, amending ASC Topic 350.Under the revised guidance, entities testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment have the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating fair value.  If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible is less than the carrying amount, the fair value calculation would be required.  The ASU also requires that the same qualitative factors be considered when determining whether an interim impairment evaluation is necessary.  The guidance is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted.  The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.