Which home appliances give off the most energy by way of waste heat, and how much do they contribute to my house being so hot in summer? What can I do about it? How do I know which appliances are more efficient and give off less heat?

A number of home appliances give off a significant amount of waste heat and when running, can increase the temperature in your home. As the temperature increases, it may be necessary to run the air conditioner longer in order to compensate for the increased heat and keep the home’s occupants comfortable. This in turn increases your overall energy costs. Appliances that give off heat when running include lighting (specifically incandescent and halogen lighting), televisions, dishwashers, stoves, and refrigerators.
In order to find new appliances that give off less waste heat, it is important to look for ENERGY STAR® rated appliances. If you cannot afford to replace appliances right now, then consider running your heat generating appliances in the evening when temperatures are cooler, and don’t run a number of heat generating appliances at the same time.