A pressure generating system and method for generating a flow of fluid at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The system includes a pressure generator and a pressure regulator downstream of the pressure generator. The system monitors a characteristic associated with the pressure regulator, the fluid flow downstream of the pressure regulator to the patient, the fluid flow upstream of the pressure regulator, the fluid flow exhausted from the pressure regulator, or any combination thereof. A controller coupled to the pressure generator controls an operating speed of the pressure generator based on the monitored characteristic(s) so that the output of the pressure generator is only kept as high as needed to provide the desired pressure to the patient.