Using hemp as a building material can still be considered an innovation in the South African construction industry. Hemp provides a variety of alternatives to traditional building materials. Hempcrete, made from a mixture of hemp fibers, lime, and water serves as a replacement for concrete, and hemp can also be used for insulation and paint. What makes hemp environmentally friendly is that it is composed of renewable resources, has negative greenhouse emissions, is recyclable, and the production of hemp requires less energy than traditional building materials. There is increased support for the need for green buildings. In developed countries, global energy consumption by buildings has increased from 20% to 40%, largely attributable to population growth and the number of time people spend inside buildings.