Starting in 2015, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance began researching the energy savings potential of a dedicated outside air system (DOAS) approach in Northwest commercial buildings.

This report details the findings from eight pilot projects conducted in partnership with local utilities and energy efficiency program partners. These pilots tested a DOAS approach—previously referred to as very high efficiency DOAS—that included dedicated ventilation air (decoupled from primary heating and cooling air) with high-efficiency heat recovery and a high-efficiency heating and cooling system. This equipment was coupled with key design principles to maximize system performance. The pilot projects, conducted on mostly small-to-medium-sized buildings, helped validate energy savings assumptions and gain a better understanding of the design and installation process.