Hartford's environmental practices include OECD-certified biodegradable surfactants, sodium hypochlorite chemistry that breaks down to salt water in hours, surface-cleaner technique that uses 40% less water than open-wand work, ground-level capture mats on shoreline and chemistry-heavy jobs, hazardous waste disposal at Alberta Environment-approved facilities. Eco-friendly upgrade options available on request.
The primary soft-wash chemistry across all Hartford residential and commercial work is sodium hypochlorite — the same active compound used in municipal water treatment, swimming pool sanitisation, and household chlorine bleach. At the dilution we apply (typically 1-3% active concentration for house wash, 0.5-1% for roof work), the chemistry breaks down on contact with organic matter (algae, mildew, dirt) and through UV exposure within hours. The breakdown products are salt water and oxygen. No persistent residue in soil, no groundwater contamination risk, no airborne residue beyond the immediate work zone.
The surfactants we mix with sodium hypochlorite (helps the chemistry stick to vertical walls long enough to do the work) carry OECD 301B biodegradable certification — the international 28-day standard for biodegradation. We do not use phosphate-based detergents anywhere in the protocol; phosphates contribute to lake and waterway algae blooms, which is the opposite of what soft-wash chemistry is meant to do. We do not use PFAS ('forever chemicals') or quaternary ammonium compounds in any standard protocol.
MSDS sheets for every chemistry used on your property are available on request before any job — useful for clients with chemical sensitivities, properties with sensitive landscaping or aquaponic setups, or commercial sites with specific compliance requirements. Pair this page with soft washing and mold and algae removal for the chemistry-application detail.
Recent work
How we minimise environmental impact per job
Four protocols that reduce footprint without compromising results
Surface-cleaner technique cuts water 40%
21-inch surface cleaner concentrates water on the cleaning area vs open-wand overspray. Typical Calgary residential project uses 200-400 litres vs industry avg 500-800 litres.
Plant-shielding pre-rinse
Full vegetation soak before any chemistry application protects sensitive shrubs and lawn. Post-job plant rinse confirms protection.
Capture-mat protocol on shoreline + chemistry-heavy jobs
Ground-level absorbent mats collect rinse water before it reaches storm sewer or natural waterway. Standard on Chestermere lakefront, optional on inland properties.
Hazardous waste to AB-approved facilities
Oxalic acid neutralisation rinse, captured oil-stain hydrocarbons, shoreline capture-mat content all hauled to Alberta Environment-approved disposal facilities. Receipts on file.
Eco-friendly upgrade options — pick the level that matters to you
Plant-shielding · captured-rinse · pure-water glass — three add-on options
Plant-shielding pre-rinse (+10% on per-service price) is the most popular upgrade — useful for properties with mature gardens, rare or heritage shrubs, food-producing plants (vegetable gardens, fruit trees), aquaponic setups, or any planting the client is particularly attached to. The protocol adds 30-45 minutes to a typical residential visit and adds a post-job plant rinse to flush any chemistry that drifted onto the landscape.
Captured-rinse protocol (+15-20% on chemistry-heavy services) uses ground-level capture mats to collect rinse water during work, preventing runoff to storm sewer or natural waterways. Standard on Chestermere lakefront work because of shoreline regulations; optional elsewhere. Useful for properties draining toward sensitive waterways (creek-adjacent, lake-edge inland), municipal projects with discharge restrictions, or clients with strong environmental commitments. Adds 30-60 minutes per visit depending on scope.
Pure-water-fed pole window cleaning (+10-15% on window cleaning) uses zero chemistry — just deionised water through a hose-fed pole. Useful for clients with strong chemical sensitivities, properties with food-prep windows, or projects where zero chemical contact on glass is preferred. Trade-off: slightly slower work pace and somewhat less effective on heavy mineral or grease staining (still works well, just takes longer). All three upgrades can be combined on a single project. Pair this page with window cleaning and Chestermere service area for technical detail.
-40%Water vs industry avg
OECD 301BBiodegradable cert
ZeroPhosphate use
Services where environmental practices matter most
Six services with built-in environmental protocols
Some services include eco protocols by default (shoreline, chemistry-heavy work); others get them as add-ons.
Five questions about chemistry practices, water consumption, certifications, waste management and upgrade options.
Sodium hypochlorite (the primary soft-wash chemistry) used at standard dilution that breaks down to salt water within hours of contact — no persistent residue in soil or groundwater. Biodegradable surfactants meeting OECD 301B 28-day degradation standard (the residential grade common to greener exterior cleaners). Oxalic acid pre-treatments for mineral staining used only where staining is present, with alkaline neutralisation rinse on completion. No phosphate-based detergents used anywhere in the protocol. All chemistry MSDS sheets available on request before any job.
Surface-cleaner technique reduces water consumption roughly 40% vs open-wand pressure washing — the closed-loop fan-pattern of the 21-inch surface cleaner concentrates water flow on the cleaning area instead of overspraying. Soft-wash chemistry-then-rinse approach uses water primarily for rinsing rather than mechanical impact, cutting consumption by another 25% on house and roof work. Typical Hartford residential project uses roughly 200-400 litres of water vs industry average 500-800 litres for comparable work. Commercial pad work uses controlled water reclaim where local bylaws require it.
The surfactants we mix with sodium hypochlorite carry OECD 301B biodegradable certification (28-day standard). The pressure-washing detergents used in commercial degreasing carry EcoLogo certification where the project specifies it. Sodium hypochlorite itself isn't 'certified' biodegradable in the formal sense — it's a chemistry that breaks down into salt and water through normal contact with organic matter and UV exposure, which is why it's used for municipal water treatment. No PFAS chemicals, no phosphates, no quaternary ammonium compounds in any standard protocol.
Yes. Hazardous waste (oxalic acid neutralisation rinse from mineral-stain work, hydrocarbons captured during oil-stain removal, lake-side capture-mat content from shoreline jobs) is collected in sealed containers and disposed of at Alberta Environment-approved hazardous waste facilities. Receipts are kept on file for the regulatory record. Non-hazardous waste (vegetation debris, gutter cleanings, general site cleanup) is bagged for client collection or hauled to Calgary municipal transfer stations. Crew is trained on the Alberta Environment hazardous waste disposal procedures as part of the Apprentice 90-day program.
Yes — three upgrade options. Plant-shielding pre-rinse: full vegetation soak before any chemistry application, plus post-job plant rinse, protects sensitive shrubs and lawn. Captured-rinse protocol: ground-level capture mats during chemistry-heavy work to collect rinse water before it reaches the storm sewer (standard on shoreline jobs, optional on inland properties). Pure-water-fed pole window cleaning: zero chemistry, just deionised water, for clients who want zero chemical contact on glass. All three add 10-20% to the per-service price; the estimator quotes the upgrade separately so you can pick what matters to you.
Eco-minded Calgary clients
What clients say about the environmental upgrades
★★★★★4.9· 75 reviews on Google
★★★★★
We have a vegetable garden along the west wall and a heritage Saskatoon hedge. Plant-shielding upgrade meant zero impact on either after the house wash. Worth the extra 10%.
Homeowner
Calgary · Inglewood
★★★★★
Property backs onto a small creek. Captured-rinse protocol kept everything contained — Hartford brought the capture mats and the disposal containers and showed us where everything went. Peace of mind worth way more than the upgrade cost.
Homeowner
Calgary · Lake Bonavista
★★★★★
Chemical sensitivity in the household. Pure-water-fed pole on the windows meant no chemistry contact at all. Slightly slower work but the technician was patient and the windows came back clear.
Homeowner
Calgary · Mount Royal
★★★★★
Asked for the MSDS sheets before booking. Hartford emailed them within an hour. Easy comparison vs another contractor who couldn't produce them. That alone made the decision easy.
Homeowner
Cochrane · Heritage Hills
Eco-friendly upgrades available on request
Mention eco upgrades at the quote stage
Plant-shielding pre-rinse, captured-rinse protocol, pure-water window cleaning — three add-on options at +10-20% per-service price. Estimator quotes the upgrade separately so you can pick what matters to you. MSDS sheets available before any job.
