Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Description of Business

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Description of Business
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Description of Business [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations [Text Block]
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Ameresco, Inc. (including its subsidiaries, the "Company") was organized as a Delaware corporation on April 25, 2000. The Company is a provider of energy efficiency solutions for facilities throughout North America. The Company provides solutions, both products and services, that enable customers to reduce their energy consumption, lower their operating and maintenance costs and realize environmental benefits. The Company's comprehensive set of services includes upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure and the construction and operation of small-scale renewable energy plants. It also sells certain photovoltaic equipment worldwide. The Company operates in the United States, Canada, and Europe. 
The Company is compensated through a variety of methods, including: 1) direct payments based on fee-for-services contracts (utilizing lump-sum or cost-plus pricing methodologies); 2) the sale of energy from the Company's generating assets; and 3) direct payment for photovoltaic equipment and systems.
The condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2011, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, are unaudited. In addition, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation in conformity with GAAP. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, and notes thereto, included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2011. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.