diff --git a/start_server.sh b/start_server.sh
index 014b164..689dae1 100755
--- a/start_server.sh
+++ b/start_server.sh
@@ -5,10 +5,16 @@
 ENERGY_DB_CONF=./energyDB.conf
 
 if [ -f $ENERGY_DB_CONF ]; then
-    . energyDB.conf
+    echo Reading $ENERGY_DB_CONF
+    source $ENERGY_DB_CONF
+elif [ -f ../$ENERGY_DB_CONF ]; then
+    echo Reading ../$ENERGY_DB_CONF
+    source ../$ENERGY_DB_CONF
 fi
 
 ARG_HTTP_PORT=${HTTP_PORT:-8000}
 ARG_IP_ADDRESS=${IP_ADDRESS:-127.0.0.1}
 
+export DB_URL=${DATABASE_URL:-sqlite://}
+
 /usr/bin/env uvicorn --port $ARG_HTTP_PORT --host $ARG_IP_ADDRESS ${UVICORN_ARGS} srv:energyDB