diff --git a/nequip/train/lightning.py b/nequip/train/lightning.py
index b96a17e9..d6ce9ec5 100644
--- a/nequip/train/lightning.py
+++ b/nequip/train/lightning.py
@@ -4,11 +4,15 @@
 from hydra.utils import instantiate
 from nequip.model import model_from_config
 from nequip.data import AtomicDataDict
+from nequip.utils import RankedLogger
 from ._metrics_utils import gather_all_tensors
 import warnings
 from typing import Optional, Dict
 
 
+logger = RankedLogger(__name__, rank_zero_only=True)
+
+
 # metrics are already synced before logging, but Lightning still sends a PossibleUserWarning about setting sync_dist=True in self.logdict()
 warnings.filterwarnings(
     "ignore",
@@ -62,6 +66,7 @@ def __init__(
         super().__init__()
         self.save_hyperparameters()
         self.model = model_from_config(config=model, initialize=True)
+        logger.debug(f"Built Model Details:\n{str(self.model)}")
         self.optimizer_config = optimizer
         self.lr_scheduler_config = lr_scheduler
 
diff --git a/nequip/utils/logger.py b/nequip/utils/logger.py
index 02e4046c..205d26b3 100644
--- a/nequip/utils/logger.py
+++ b/nequip/utils/logger.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """From https://github.com/ashleve/lightning-hydra-template"""
 
+import os
 import logging
 from typing import Mapping, Optional
 
@@ -26,6 +27,11 @@ def __init__(
         super().__init__(logger=logger, extra=extra)
         self.rank_zero_only = rank_zero_only
 
+        # get log level from the environment variable, default to 'INFO'
+        log_level = os.getenv("_NEQUIP_LOG_LEVEL", "INFO").upper()
+        log_level = getattr(logging, log_level, logging.INFO)
+        self.logger.setLevel(log_level)
+
     def log(
         self, level: int, msg: str, rank: Optional[int] = None, *args, **kwargs
     ) -> None: