diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2eea525
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/download_spx_quotes.py b/download_spx_quotes.py
index d6ebc92..f88b690 100644
--- a/download_spx_quotes.py
+++ b/download_spx_quotes.py
@@ -5,7 +5,12 @@ import schedule
 import time
 import zipfile
 
-quotes_directory = os.environ['DOWNLOAD_DIRECTORY']
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+from os import getenv
+
+load_dotenv()
+
+quotes_directory = getenv('DOWNLOAD_DIRECTORY')
 download_directory = quotes_directory + 'Zip Archive/'
 
 def process_file(file: str):
@@ -20,11 +25,11 @@ def download_quotes():
     client.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
     client.connect(
         hostname='sftp.datashop.livevol.com', 
-        username=os.environ['USER'], 
-        password=os.environ['PASSWORD']
+        username=getenv('USER'), 
+        password=getenv('PASSWORD')
     )
     sftp = client.open_sftp()
-    sftp.chdir('./subscriptions/' + os.environ['ORDER'] + '/' + os.environ['ITEM'])
+    sftp.chdir('./subscriptions/' + getenv('ORDER') + '/' + getenv('ITEM'))
     files = sftp.listdir()
     for file in files:
         local_file = download_directory + file
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 64f7c4b..b71f29f 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 pandas
 paramiko
+python-dotenv
 pytz
 schedule
\ No newline at end of file