diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e13abd6e..aec9a737 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ See `.tool-versions` file for used django and node version
 You have to set up at least the following environment variables:
 
 ```bash
-export IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT=local
+export VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT=local
 ```
 
 See `.env_secrets/local_daniel.env` for more possible environment variables.
diff --git a/caprover_create_app.py b/caprover_create_app.py
index 2b615955..d3f2175f 100644
--- a/caprover_create_app.py
+++ b/caprover_create_app.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def main(app_name, image_name, environment_file):
         container_http_port=7555,
         environment_variables={
             # 'DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE': 'config.settings.base',
-            "IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT": env.str("IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT", "dev-feature"),
+            "VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT": env.str("VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT", "dev-feature"),
             "IT_DEFAULT_ADMIN_PASSWORD": env.str("fWwoQzreIS5uztLOyF8jJpS9M"),
             "POSTGRES_HOST": f"srv-captain--{app_name}-postgres",
             "POSTGRES_PORT": 5432,
diff --git a/env/bitbucket/prepare_for_deployment.sh b/env/bitbucket/prepare_for_deployment.sh
index 27d16ca5..7db1b2a3 100755
--- a/env/bitbucket/prepare_for_deployment.sh
+++ b/env/bitbucket/prepare_for_deployment.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export PATH="$PWD/vbvvenv/bin:$PATH"
 docker login --username=iterativ --password=$DOCKER_PASSWORD_TOKEN
 
 # only used for `python manage.py collectstatic` so value doesn't matter
-export IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT=dev
+export VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT=dev
 
 pip install -r $BITBUCKET_CLONE_DIR/server/requirements/requirements-dev.txt
 
diff --git a/env_secrets/caprover_dev.env b/env_secrets/caprover_dev.env
index ce116288..15128702 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/caprover_dev.env and b/env_secrets/caprover_dev.env differ
diff --git a/env_secrets/caprover_prod.env b/env_secrets/caprover_prod.env
index 8c8aca70..60c3eede 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/caprover_prod.env and b/env_secrets/caprover_prod.env differ
diff --git a/env_secrets/caprover_stage.env b/env_secrets/caprover_stage.env
index 9d4e3c92..e6fbd8fd 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/caprover_stage.env and b/env_secrets/caprover_stage.env differ
diff --git a/env_secrets/local_chrigu.env b/env_secrets/local_chrigu.env
index b012626b..021af725 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/local_chrigu.env and b/env_secrets/local_chrigu.env differ
diff --git a/env_secrets/local_daniel.env b/env_secrets/local_daniel.env
index 9b641f2e..9bf0493d 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/local_daniel.env and b/env_secrets/local_daniel.env differ
diff --git a/env_secrets/local_elia.env b/env_secrets/local_elia.env
index 920f089e..3fa0d8a9 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/local_elia.env and b/env_secrets/local_elia.env differ
diff --git a/env_secrets/local_lorenz.env b/env_secrets/local_lorenz.env
index 22665c98..2dec8268 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/local_lorenz.env and b/env_secrets/local_lorenz.env differ
diff --git a/env_secrets/production.env b/env_secrets/production.env
index 7169a777..4356f74c 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/production.env and b/env_secrets/production.env differ
diff --git a/env_secrets/production_azure.json b/env_secrets/production_azure.json
index 64f9b95c..f7221388 100644
Binary files a/env_secrets/production_azure.json and b/env_secrets/production_azure.json differ
diff --git a/example.env b/example.env
index cebd3ce6..ccda9030 100644
--- a/example.env
+++ b/example.env
@@ -1 +1 @@
-export IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT=local
+export VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT=local
diff --git a/prepare_server_cypress.sh b/prepare_server_cypress.sh
index 0bc71716..68bee3e9 100755
--- a/prepare_server_cypress.sh
+++ b/prepare_server_cypress.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # set location to script directory
 cd "${0%/*}"
 
-export IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT=local
+export VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT=local
 export DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=config.settings.test_cypress
 export DJANGO_PORT=8001
 export PGDATABASE=vbv_lernwelt_cypress
diff --git a/scripts/count_queries.py b/scripts/count_queries.py
index 905f001e..46318b64 100644
--- a/scripts/count_queries.py
+++ b/scripts/count_queries.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import django
 
 sys.path.append("../server")
 
-os.environ.setdefault("IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT", "local")
+os.environ.setdefault("VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT", "local")
 os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "config.settings.base")
 django.setup()
 
diff --git a/server/config/settings/base.py b/server/config/settings/base.py
index fb31f49a..b690a39f 100644
--- a/server/config/settings/base.py
+++ b/server/config/settings/base.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ env = Env()
 env.read_env()
 
 # set to "local" for local development
-APP_ENVIRONMENT = env("IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT")
+APP_ENVIRONMENT = env("VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT")
 
 # GENERAL
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -619,7 +619,7 @@ if FILE_UPLOAD_STORAGE == "s3":
 
     AWS_PRESIGNED_EXPIRY = env.int("AWS_PRESIGNED_EXPIRY", default=300)  # seconds
 
-if APP_ENVIRONMENT.startswith("dev"):
+if APP_ENVIRONMENT == "local":
     # http://whitenoise.evans.io/en/latest/django.html#using-whitenoise-in-development
     INSTALLED_APPS = ["whitenoise.runserver_nostatic"] + INSTALLED_APPS  # noqa F405
 
@@ -652,10 +652,8 @@ if APP_ENVIRONMENT.startswith("dev"):
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # https://django-extensions.readthedocs.io/en/latest/installation_instructions.html#configuration
     INSTALLED_APPS += ["django_extensions", "django_watchfiles"]  # noqa F405
-
-if APP_ENVIRONMENT in ["production", "caprover"] or APP_ENVIRONMENT.startswith(
-    "caprover"
-):
+else:
+    # not local
     # SECURITY
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/ref/settings/#secure-proxy-ssl-header
diff --git a/server/config/settings/test.py b/server/config/settings/test.py
index 5878c8c8..f78911c5 100644
--- a/server/config/settings/test.py
+++ b/server/config/settings/test.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=unused-wildcard-import,wildcard-import,wrong-import-position
 import os
 
-os.environ["IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT"] = "local"
+os.environ["VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT"] = "local"
 
 from .base import *  # noqa
 
diff --git a/server/config/settings/test_cypress.py b/server/config/settings/test_cypress.py
index a82cbe93..bba19d71 100644
--- a/server/config/settings/test_cypress.py
+++ b/server/config/settings/test_cypress.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # pylint: disable=unused-wildcard-import,wildcard-import,wrong-import-position
 import os
 
-os.environ["IT_APP_ENVIRONMENT"] = "local"
+os.environ["VITE_APP_ENVIRONMENT"] = "local"
 
 from .base import *  # noqa