diff --git a/configurations/__init__.py b/configurations/__init__.py
index 1ae1e42..373fa53 100644
--- a/configurations/__init__.py
+++ b/configurations/__init__.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # flake8: noqa
-from .base import Settings, Configuration
+from .base import Settings, Configuration, DotConfiguration
 from .decorators import pristinemethod
 
 __version__ = '0.8'
-__all__ = ['Configuration', 'pristinemethod', 'Settings']
+__all__ = ['Configuration', 'DotConfiguration', 'pristinemethod', 'Settings']
 
 
 def load_ipython_extension(ipython):
diff --git a/configurations/base.py b/configurations/base.py
index b4ea2ab..658cf12 100644
--- a/configurations/base.py
+++ b/configurations/base.py
@@ -41,39 +41,6 @@ class ConfigurationBase(type):
         return "<Configuration '{0}.{1}'>".format(self.__module__,
                                                   self.__name__)
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def read_env(env_file='.env', **overrides):
-        """
-        Pulled from Honcho code with minor updates, reads local default
-        environment variables from a .env file located in the project root
-        directory.
-
-        http://www.wellfireinteractive.com/blog/easier-12-factor-django/
-        https://gist.github.com/bennylope/2999704
-        """
-        import re
-        import os
-
-        with open(env_file) as f:
-            content = f.read()
-
-            for line in content.splitlines():
-                m1 = re.match(r'\A([A-Za-z_0-9]+)=(.*)\Z', line)
-                if not m1:
-                    continue
-                key, val = m1.group(1), m1.group(2)
-                m2 = re.match(r"\A'(.*)'\Z", val)
-                if m2:
-                    val = m2.group(1)
-                m3 = re.match(r'\A"(.*)"\Z', val)
-                if m3:
-                    val = re.sub(r'\\(.)', r'\1', m3.group(1))
-                os.environ.setdefault(key, val)
-
-        # set defaults
-        for key, value in overrides.items():
-            os.environ.setdefault(key, value)
-
 
 class Configuration(six.with_metaclass(ConfigurationBase)):
     """
@@ -114,6 +81,53 @@ class Configuration(six.with_metaclass(ConfigurationBase)):
                 setup_value(cls, name, value)
 
 
+class DotConfiguration(Configuration):
+
+    DOT_ENV = None
+    DOT_ENV_LOADED = False
+
+    @classmethod
+    def pre_setup(cls):
+        Configuration.pre_setup()
+        if not cls.DOT_ENV_LOADED and cls.DOT_ENV:
+            cls.read_env(cls.DOT_ENV)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def read_env(cls, env_file='.env', **overrides):
+        """
+        Pulled from Honcho code with minor updates, reads local default
+        environment variables from a .env file located in the project root
+        or provided directory.
+
+        http://www.wellfireinteractive.com/blog/easier-12-factor-django/
+        https://gist.github.com/bennylope/2999704
+        """
+        import re
+        import os
+
+        with open(env_file) as f:
+            content = f.read()
+
+            for line in content.splitlines():
+                m1 = re.match(r'\A([A-Za-z_0-9]+)=(.*)\Z', line)
+                if not m1:
+                    continue
+                key, val = m1.group(1), m1.group(2)
+                m2 = re.match(r"\A'(.*)'\Z", val)
+                if m2:
+                    val = m2.group(1)
+                m3 = re.match(r'\A"(.*)"\Z', val)
+                if m3:
+                    val = re.sub(r'\\(.)', r'\1', m3.group(1))
+                os.environ.setdefault(key, val)
+
+        # set defaults
+        for key, value in overrides.items():
+            os.environ.setdefault(key, value)
+
+        cls.DOT_ENV_LOADED = True
+
+
 class Settings(Configuration):
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/test_project/test_project/settings.py b/test_project/test_project/settings.py
index 1ffe526..db6500c 100644
--- a/test_project/test_project/settings.py
+++ b/test_project/test_project/settings.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from configurations import Configuration, values
 
 
-class Base(Configuration):
+class Base(DotConfiguration):
     # Django settings for test_project project.
 
     DEBUG = values.BooleanValue(True, environ=True)
diff --git a/tests/settings/dot_env.py b/tests/settings/dot_env.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d7acbb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/settings/dot_env.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+from configurations import DotConfiguration
+
+
+class DotEnvConfiguration(DotConfiguration):
+
+    DOT_ENV = 'test_project/.env'
diff --git a/tests/settings/main.py b/tests/settings/main.py
index 9693f5b..d646271 100644
--- a/tests/settings/main.py
+++ b/tests/settings/main.py
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@ class Test(Configuration):
     @classmethod
     def pre_setup(cls):
         cls.PRE_SETUP_TEST_SETTING = 6
-        cls.read_env('test_project/.env')
 
     @classmethod
     def post_setup(cls):
diff --git a/tests/test_env.py b/tests/test_env.py
index 637f188..70e7a53 100644
--- a/tests/test_env.py
+++ b/tests/test_env.py
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 import os
 from django.test import TestCase
-from configurations.values import BooleanValue
 from mock import patch
 
-class EnvValueTests(TestCase):
 
+class DotEnvLoadingTests(TestCase):
+
+    @patch.dict(os.environ, clear=True,
+            DJANGO_CONFIGURATION='DotEnvConfiguration',
+            DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE='tests.settings.dot_env')
     def test_env_loaded(self):
-        check_value = BooleanValue(False)
-        self.assertEqual(check_value.setup('ENV_LOADED'), True)
\ No newline at end of file
+        from tests.settings import dot_env
+        self.assertTrue(dot_env.DOT_ENV_LOADED)
\ No newline at end of file