diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0f60c40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+MESSAGE=Test MESSAGE
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6dd513d..912acd9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 
 main
+.env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0598b50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module git.woodburn.au/nathanwoodburn/go-webserver-template
+
+go 1.21.3
+
+require github.com/joho/godotenv v1.5.1
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d61b19e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+github.com/joho/godotenv v1.5.1 h1:7eLL/+HRGLY0ldzfGMeQkb7vMd0as4CfYvUVzLqw0N0=
+github.com/joho/godotenv v1.5.1/go.mod h1:f4LDr5Voq0i2e/R5DDNOoa2zzDfwtkZa6DnEwAbqwq4=
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 6433f3c..0a3377e 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -5,10 +5,23 @@ import (
 	"html/template"
 	"log"
 	"net/http"
+	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/joho/godotenv"
 )
 
 func main() {
+	// Load the .env file
+	err := godotenv.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		// Try to load the .env.example file
+		fmt.Println("Error loading .env file, trying .env.example")
+		err = godotenv.Load(".env.example")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal("Error loading .env.example file")
+		}
+	}
 	http.HandleFunc("/", mainHandler)
 	http.HandleFunc("/assets/", assetHandler)
 
@@ -39,6 +52,9 @@ func mainHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 func getHandler(relPath string, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	tmplPath := filepath.Join("templates", filepath.Clean(relPath)+".html")
 
+	// Get message from Env
+	message := os.Getenv("MESSAGE")
+
 	// Parse the template
 	tmpl, err := template.ParseFiles(tmplPath)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -46,8 +62,11 @@ func getHandler(relPath string, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// Create a map to hold the data
+	requestData := map[string]interface{}{"envMessage": message}
+
 	// Execute the template
-	err = tmpl.Execute(w, nil)
+	err = tmpl.Execute(w, requestData)
 	if err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, "Error rendering template", http.StatusInternalServerError)
 	}
diff --git a/templates/index.html b/templates/index.html
index 6e0048d..d9ef1c7 100644
--- a/templates/index.html
+++ b/templates/index.html
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 </head>
 <body>
     <h1>Hello, World!</h1>
+    {{if .envMessage }}
+        <p>{{.envMessage}}</p>
+    {{end}}
 
     {{if .message}}
         <p>{{.message}}</p>
