Arroyo Commons, a twelve-unit campus housing project in Livermore, was built in 1998 by AID Employment for people with developmental disabilities and very low incomes. Prior to construction, Green Building in Alameda County selected Arroyo Commons as a Resourceful Building Demonstration Project. From a resource-conservation perspective, one of the most unique features of Arroyo Commons is its wall system: a steel framework insulated with rice straw bales. Benefits of this building technique include a significant reduction in construction waste, enhanced durability of the structure, greater comfort and lower utility bills.

 

This case study was written for the 2005 Green Building Tour in Alameda County.