diff --git a/decouple.env b/decouple.env
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..341c5ff99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decouple.env
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+SECRET_KEY=!9g1-#la+#(oft(v-y1qhy$jk-2$24pdk69#b_jfqyv!*%a_)t
+DEBUG=True
+NAME=sapl
+USER=sapl
+PASSWORD=sapl
+HOST=localhost
+PORT=5432
+EMAIL_USE_TLS = True
+EMAIL_HOST = ''
+EMAIL_HOST_USER = ''
+EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = ''
+EMAIL_PORT = 587
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/requirements/requirements.txt b/requirements/requirements.txt
index fa666f49b..432561465 100644
--- a/requirements/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements/requirements.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ django-bower==5.1.0
 django-braces==1.8.1
 django-compressor==2.0
 django-crispy-forms==1.6.0
+python-decouple==3.0
 django-extra-views==0.7.1
 django-model-utils==2.4
 django-sass-processor==0.3.4
diff --git a/sapl/settings.py b/sapl/settings.py
index 996a0824f..b6b4c5a6a 100644
--- a/sapl/settings.py
+++ b/sapl/settings.py
@@ -14,16 +14,18 @@ from unipath import Path
 from .temp_suppress_crispy_form_warnings import \
     SUPRESS_CRISPY_FORM_WARNINGS_LOGGING
 
+from decouple import config
+
 BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).ancestor(2)
 
 # Quick-start development settings - unsuitable for production
 # See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.8/howto/deployment/checklist/
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
-SECRET_KEY = '!9g1-#la+#(oft(v-y1qhy$jk-2$24pdk69#b_jfqyv!*%a_)t'
+SECRET_KEY = config('SECRET_KEY')
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = True
+DEBUG = config('DEBUG', default=False, cast=bool)
 
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = ['*']
 
@@ -107,19 +109,19 @@ WSGI_APPLICATION = 'sapl.wsgi.application'
 DATABASES = {
     'default': {
         'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql_psycopg2',
-        'NAME': 'sapl',
-        'USER': 'sapl',
-        'PASSWORD': 'sapl',
-        'HOST': 'localhost',
-        'PORT': '5432',
+        'NAME': config('NAME'),
+        'USER': config('USER'),
+        'PASSWORD': config('PASSWORD'),
+        'HOST': config('HOST'),
+        'PORT': config('PORT'),
     }
 }
 
-EMAIL_USE_TLS = True
-EMAIL_HOST = ''
-EMAIL_HOST_USER = ''
-EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = ''
-EMAIL_PORT = 587
+EMAIL_USE_TLS = config('EMAIL_USE_TLS')
+EMAIL_HOST = config('EMAIL_HOST')
+EMAIL_HOST_USER = config('EMAIL_HOST_USER')
+EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = config('EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD')
+EMAIL_PORT = config('EMAIL_PORT', cast=int)
 
 MAX_DOC_UPLOAD_SIZE = 5*1024*1024  # 5MB
 MAX_IMAGE_UPLOAD_SIZE = 2*1024*1024  # 2MB