diff --git a/lib/aliases.zsh b/lib/aliases.zsh
index 0555be264..d2fa6ddc3 100644
--- a/lib/aliases.zsh
+++ b/lib/aliases.zsh
@@ -22,3 +22,8 @@ alias sl=ls # often screw this up
 
 alias afind='ack-grep -il'
 
+# global aliases
+alias -g G=' | grep '
+alias -g L=' | less '
+
+
diff --git a/plugins/rails3/rails3.plugin.zsh b/plugins/rails3/rails3.plugin.zsh
index f4ee637e6..298d674ff 100644
--- a/plugins/rails3/rails3.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/rails3/rails3.plugin.zsh
@@ -17,3 +17,8 @@ alias rp='_rails_command plugin'
 alias rs='_rails_command server'
 alias rsd='_rails_command server --debugger'
 alias devlog='tail -f log/development.log'
+
+# set environment aliases
+alias -g RT=' RAILS_ENV=test '
+alias -g RP=' RAILS_ENV=production '
+alias -g RS=' RAILS_ENV=staging '