diff --git a/database.go b/database.go
index 2fbe1fa..fc4c2ec 100644
--- a/database.go
+++ b/database.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
 
-	"github.com/joho/godotenv"
+	// "github.com/joho/godotenv"
 
 	firebase "firebase.google.com/go"
 	"firebase.google.com/go/db"
@@ -15,18 +15,18 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Use godot package to load/read the .env file and
-// return the value of the key
-func goDotEnvVariable(key string) string {
+// return the value of the key (for local env)
+// func goDotEnvVariable(key string) string {
 
-	// load .env file
-	err := godotenv.Load(".env")
+// 	// load .env file
+// 	err := godotenv.Load(".env")
 
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("Error loading .env file")
-	}
+// 	if err != nil {
+// 		log.Fatalf("Error loading .env file")
+// 	}
 
-	return os.Getenv(key)
-}
+// 	return os.Getenv(key)
+// }
 
 // Initialize Firebase client
 var firebaseClient *db.Client