It may waste energy, but if so, it's wasting y kwh of energy per day (or joules), at a probably-variably rate of x kw, where y is x * 24 (for kwh)

Sure beats heat stroke and death.

You are just moving heat strokes elsewhere.

Hell, people are dying now in Europe in part because US AC abuse burned so much energy it contributed in a large part to global warming.

I doubt AC "abuse" is relevant compared to just about everything else contributing to global warming.