In Bozeman, Mont., where winter often lasts into late spring, homeowners Mary and Richard Elston chose two off-the-shelf hemp building materials to create 12-inch highly insulated walls in their new 2,900 sq. foot home outside of town.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the conventional building sector contributes up to 30% of total annual greenhouse gas emissions globally. Left unchecked, those emissions will more than double in the next 20 years. Hemp can help.