--- title: Need for Shaft Grounding on VFD-Driven Motors description: The “Greening” of America’s Buildings and the Need for Shaft Grounding on VFD-Driven Motors image: https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AEGIS_SGR-Grp-2016-150x150-1.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/) - [AEGIS® PRO Series – for motors over 300 HP/225 kW](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/pro-series/) - [Shaft Voltage Testing and Accessories](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/mounting-accessories/) - [Online Product Catalog](https://catalog.est-aegis.com/) - [AEGIS® 2-Year Extended Warranty](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/extended-warranty/) - [Applications](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/) - [Electric Vehicle Solutions](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/electric-vehicle-solutions/) - [Food & Beverage](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/food-beverage/) - [HVAC](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/hvac/) - [Industrial & Chemical](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/industrial-chemical/) - [Other Industries](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/other-industries/) - [Power Generation & Renewable Energy](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/power-generation-renewable-energy/) - [Transportation](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/transportation/) - [Water Treatment](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/water-treatment/) - [Bearing Protection](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/) - [Shaft Voltage & Bearing Currents](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/shaft-voltage-and-bearing-currents/) - [Fluting & Bearing Inspection](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/fluting-and-bearing-inspection/) - [Best Practices & Installation](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/best-practices-and-installation/) - [Resources](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/) - [AEGIS® Bearing Protection Handbook](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/handbook/) - [IEEE-841, Hazardous Locations, & AEGIS®](https://info.est-aegis.com/technical-codes-and-ieee-841-standards) - [Recorded Webinars Library](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/recorded-webinars/) - [Installation Instructions](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/installation-instructions/) - [Videos](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/videos/) - [Technical Papers](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/technical-papers/) - [Case Studies](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/case-studies/) - [Specifying AEGIS®](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/specifying-aegis/) - [Request Training](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/) - [Product Sheets](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/product-sheets/) - [About](https://www.est-aegis.com/about/) - [News](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) - [Tradeshows](https://www.est-aegis.com/about/tradeshows/) - [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) - [Where to Buy](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/) - [Distributors](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/distributors?type=Distributor) - [Trained Installers](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/installers?type=Installer) - [Explosion Proof Installers](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/installers?type=Explosion%20Proof%20Installer) - [Motors & Seals with AEGIS® Installed](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/oems-with-aegis/) [Contact Us](https://www.est-aegis.com/contact/) - [+1 866-738-1857](tel:+1%20866-738-1857) # The “Greening” of America’s Buildings and the Need for Shaft Grounding on VFD-Driven Motors [Home](https://www.est-aegis.com/) » [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) » The “Greening” of America’s Buildings and the Need for Shaft Grounding on VFD-Driven Motors [AEGIS](https://blog.est-aegis.com/author/estaegis) Nov 4, 2016 ***![aegis_sgr-grp-2016](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AEGIS_SGR-Grp-2016-150x150-1.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=AEGIS_SGR-Grp-2016-150x150-1.jpg)The “Greening” of America’s Buildings: *** The growing “green” movement has led to a flood of new standards including the US Greens Building Councils Building Performance Initiative, the Green Building Initiative, and LEED — all aimed at increasing energy efficiency and sustainability. Challenged to reduce energy consumption and to document savings, America’s facilities managers are installing variable frequency drives (VFDs) in HVAC systems as one of the best ways of achieving such savings. ![mechanical-room-hvac](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mechanical-Room-HVAC-300x227.jpg?width=229&name=Mechanical-Room-HVAC-300x227.jpg) ***The Promise of VFDs: *** VFDs reduce energy consumption by allowing motors to run less than full speed. When used to control air conditioning, air handling, or pump motors, VFDs can yield energy savings of 20 ~ 30% or more by allowing motors to run at reduced speeds to compensate for changes in load.     ***![vertical-markets-hvac](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Vertical-Markets-HVAC-300x218.jpg?width=234&name=Vertical-Markets-HVAC-300x218.jpg)The Need for Shaft Grounding on VFD-Driven Motors: *** But, VFDs can damage the motors they control. They induce currents on motor shafts that discharge through the bearings, causing pitting, fluting, and catastrophic motor failure. Without bearing protection, any savings from the use of VFDs can be quickly wiped out by the cost of replacing motors and by system downtime. To make HVAC systems sustainable as well as energy efficient, a reliable method of bearing protection is required. ***Proven, Long-Term Bearing Protection: *** By diverting bearing currents safely to ground, AEGIS® SGR Shaft Grounding Rings ensure the reliable, long-term operation of VFD driven motor systems, locking in energy savings and making these systems truly sustainable and truly green.   ![Select Motors with Factory Installed AEGIS from Baldor, WEG, Regal, TECO, Leeson and more](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Motors-with-AEGIS-Inside.jpg?width=518&height=304&name=Motors-with-AEGIS-Inside.jpg) Select Motors with Factory Installed AEGIS from Baldor, WEG, Regal, TECO, Leeson and more   [Shaft Grounding Rings](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/shaft-grounding-rings), [VFD Bearing Damage](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/vfd-bearing-damage), [HVAC](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/hvac), [Sustainability](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/sustainability) ### Subscribe To Our Blog ## Read On ### [US Steel Mills Must Stay Productive](https://blog.est-aegis.com/us-steel-mills-must-stay-productive?hsLang=en-us) The American Iron and Steel Institute estimates that 20% of the cost of producing a ton of steel... ### [UL Approval for AEGIS® Grounding Rings for Hazardous Environments](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hazardous-environment-ul-approval-for-aegis-grounding-rings?hsLang=en-us) Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has an approved set of procedures for installing AEGIS shaft... ### [The USA's Water Infrastructure Will Be Getting A Boost](https://blog.est-aegis.com/americas-water-infrastructure-will-be-getting-a-boost?hsLang=en-us) One of the few things that all American politicians agree on is that our nation's infrastructure... 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