--- title: 3 Cold Weather Applications of Variable Frequency Drives description: Here are the top three winter-specific applications for variable frequency drives. image: https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/hockey_dreamstime_s_13656499.jpg --- [![Electro Static Technology](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/public/images/electro-static-technology.svg "Electro Static Technology")](https://www.est-aegis.com/) [![Aegis](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/public/images/Aegis.svg "Aegis")](https://www.est-aegis.com/) - [+1 866-738-1857](tel:+1%20866-738-1857) - [Products](https://www.est-aegis.com/products/) - [AEGIS® SGR – for motors under 500 HP/375 kW](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr/) - [AEGIS® uKIT – for common NEMA/IEC frame size](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr-ukit/) - [AEGIS® RPPR – for reactor recirculating pumps](https://www.est-aegis.com/rppr-resources/) - [AEGIS® EV and EVO Rings - for electric vehicles](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/ev-evo-rings/) - 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literally hundreds of millions of lives depend on reliable heating in the winter.  And VFDs can save huge amounts of energy by running motors only as fast as necessary.  VFDs can be used to control the motors driving: - Fans for ventilation, forced hot air, and heat exchangers - Pumps for circulating heat-exchanging fluids - Compressors, an integral part of heat pump design (along with fans and circulation pumps) ## #2: Indoor Skating Rinks What would winter be without hockey?  Just as cold, but a lot drearier. VFDs can be used to drive the refrigerating systems that maintain the ice.  Pumps and compressors can run more efficiently on VFD, leading to big savings. ## #3: Snowmaking![ski-snowmakers](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ski-snowmakers.jpg?width=300&height=188&name=ski-snowmakers.jpg) When natural snowfall is insufficient,[ski areas and other outdoor recreational areas](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/other-industries/) supplement it with man-made snow.  Snowmaking machines use pumps and compressors to produce winter wonderlands, and as above, these machines can be run more efficiently with VFDs. These are just a few seasonal applications of variable frequency drives.  But regardless of the weather or season, all motors controlled by variable frequency drives should be protected against premature bearing failure with [AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Rings](https://www.est-aegis.com/products/).  Drives can cause electrical bearing damage to the systems they control, and premature motor failure can easily wipe out all the energy savings they allow. AEGIS rings come with a[ 2-Year Extended Warranty](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/extended-warranty/) against bearing fluting damage. No other form of protection against VFD-caused bearing damage offers a warranty like this. [![2-Year Extended Warranty](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20974229/3b258d08-3058-4c7f-a866-2991b627f2e0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20974229/3b258d08-3058-4c7f-a866-2991b627f2e0) To learn more about AEGIS shaft grounding and best practices for electrical bearing protection, [sign up for a training](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/). We offer monthly live training webinars, and we can also visit your facility to review your exact application. [![Sign Up For Training](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20974229/69dd56c7-bbd1-4ad0-ae5c-29de322039f0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20974229/69dd56c7-bbd1-4ad0-ae5c-29de322039f0) [HVAC](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/hvac), [Variable Frequency Drive](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/variable-frequency-drive), [Skiing](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/skiing) ### Subscribe To Our Blog ## Read On ### [Conveyor Motors on Drives Need Bearing Protection](https://blog.est-aegis.com/conveyor-motors-on-drives-need-bearing-protection?hsLang=en-us) Variable frequency drives, or inverters, are often used to control conveyor motors. In some cases,... ### [5 Great Ways to Lower Risk for New Construction](https://blog.est-aegis.com/shaft-grounding-specification-on-the-rise-for-vfd-fed-systems?hsLang=en-us) ### As reported in Construct Connect Blog of June 1, 2018, U.S. Construction Spending Hit an All-Time... ### [Swimming Pool Pumps and AEGIS Shaft Grounding](https://blog.est-aegis.com/swimming-pool-pumps-vfd-bearing-protection-aegis-ring?hsLang=en-us) Around this time every year, people around the Northern Hemisphere remember what a wonderful... 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