Lutron is a technology-driven company guided by its founder's principles. Its story began in the 1950s when physicist Joel Spira set out to invent a solid-state dimmer to enable home lighting control - a radical concept at the time.

Spira's key innovation was replacing bulky, energy-wasting rheostats with compact, efficient thyristors. This allowed him to create a dimmer that fit standard wallboxes, used less power, and generated less heat.

Incorporated in 1961, Lutron recognized the technology's potential. Dimmers were both elegant and practical, saving energy while providing unprecedented lighting control. Anticipating rising energy costs, the Spiras believed Lutron's pioneering solutions would have long-term appeal.