Allow variables assigned in .env available using
           os.environ.get('VAR_NAME')

def init_environment():
        """Allow variables assigned in .env available using
           os.environ.get('VAR_NAME')"""
        base_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
        env_path = '{0}/.env'.format(base_path)
        if os.path.exists(env_path):
            with open(env_path) as f:
                lines = f.readlines()
                for line in lines:
                    var = line.strip().split('=')
                    if len(var) == 2:
                        os.environ[var[0]] = var[1]