Using a config file to define the environment name in Laravel - http://www.slashnode.com

start.php

<?php 

// ... etc
// in bootstrap/start.php

$env = $app->detectEnvironment(function ()
{
    return require __DIR__.'/environment.php';
});

/**
 * Assuming app/environment.php contains the following:
 * 
 * <?php
 * 
 * return 'local';
 */