As the years go by, we are increasingly affected by global warming. Yet there are those who don't believe it exists. From natural disasters like typhoons and unnatural phenomena like extremely cold weather in tropical countries, global warming rears its ugly head. The main cause of global warming is the excessive release of carbon dioxide or CO2 into the air. CO2 comes mainly from vehicle emissions and industrial fumes. An example where industrial smoke and other emissions cause direct problems is found in China. In large cities like Beijing and Tianjin, the air becomes thick with haze several times a year. Only with the recent clean air campaign has their air quality improved. Taking the Initiative The general mindset of many business owners around the world is that the responsibility for preventing and reducing air pollution lies with the government. While this is true to some extent, individual entrepreneurs must also take the initiative. Reducing polluting emissions from your factories, plants and other activities is not that complicated. It is still possible with a few steps. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Some of these steps may include, but are not limited to: Purchase an air quality monitor Different types of factories and plants emit different types of pollutants. You need to identify which ones your company is most likely to release. In cases like these, you will also need an air pollution monitor to ensure you meet the emission guidelines set by the authorities. There are many types of emissions that you need to track, including CO2, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These different pollutants rely on different monitoring systems, so you need to make sure you have a composite monitoring system to address them all together. Using Technology to Control Combustion Pollutants Many factories depend on burning fuel to complete chemical processes, generate heat or start machines. In cases like these, there are several ways you can reduce smoke emissions from combustion. These include the use of PM control filters applied to flue gas stacks. Other technologies are also available, including electrostatic precipitators, catalytic reduction, fuel recirculation systems, low NOx burners and baghouses that can help your operations reduce the amount of pollutants. In some industries, activated carbon beds are used to absorb and neutralize any VOCs so they don't escape. In fact, there are convenient methods developed to control all types of air pollutants. Switch to green energy sources Fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil are the most common fuels in today's industries. However, they are also the most polluting as they release CO2 and particulate matter. Choose to go green today by exploring greener energy sources. These can include solar energy, biomass energy, hydropower and more. None of these energy sources release any type of pollutants into the air. Some of them are actually cheaper than using conventional fossil fuels. Today, solar panels are no longer those huge and bulky contraptions that need to be placed on roofs. They have become smaller, easier to handle and may even look like roof tiles. Your factory can then be self-sustainable with electricity bills.